Human Rights Assistant

Volunteering Legal

Overview

Assist in promoting and protecting human rights in Brazil.

You have:

• Human rights experience at national or international levels is required.
• Previous experience working with the United Nations or other multilateral organizations is an advantage.
• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills.
• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners.
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, among others).
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

The Resident Coordinator System encompasses all organizations of the United Nations that have operational activities in the country. As the designated Representative of the UN Secretary-General and leader of the UN Country Team (UNCT), the UN Resident Coordinator (UNRC), in consultation with the UNCT, assumes overall responsibility and coordination of the developmental activities of the UN carried out at country level. The UNCT is composed of representatives of the UN funds and programmes, specialized agencies and non-resident UN agencies. The Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) is mandated to support the RC and the UNCT in the developmental activities of the UN carried out at country level, including interagency initiatives and structures. In line with the Secretary-General initiative Human Rights up Front, which aims to strengthen prevention of issues with serious human rights consequences, since 2014 the RCO counts with a specific human rights component. The human rights team is comprised of a National Human Rights Advisor and a Human Rights Assistant. The National Human Rights Advisor also acts as a focal point for OHCHR’s Regional Office in Santiago, Chile. The UN Country Team in Brazil has various interagency working structures to ensure a coordinated action in the country and implement joint activities under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator. The UN Volunteer Human Rights Assistant will integrate the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office team and will work in close cooperation with UN Entities.

Within the delegated authority and under the overall supervision of the UN Resident Coordinator, functional support and guidance from OHCHR and direct/ operational supervision of the UN Human Rights Adviser (UNHRA), in close cooperation with UN Agencies, the UN Volunteer Human Rights Assistant will undertake the following tasks:

  Program support delivery • Assists human rights research and analysis, and contributes to the preparation of re-ports, briefings, studies, background papers, conceptual notes, among others. • Supports human rights data collection, including regarding on the situation of human rights defenders. • Assists the NHRA in responding to internal and external inquiries and information requests. • Contributes to delivering training and technical assistance to government counterparts and other national stakeholders on UN human rights standards and mechanisms. • Supports the organization of missions, conferences, workshops, trainings, technical meetings, seminars and others. • Supports the liaison with relevant stakeholders, including UN organisms, government, civil society organizations and other relevant actors. • Performs related duties as required.

Communication and advocacy • Assists in producing appealing and well written publications, online pieces and social media content, including videos and graphic materials. • Assists the planning and organization of UN events, and the UN participation in events related to human rights themes, including conferences, seminars and other external events, communicating clearly and efficiently with different kinds of audiences. • Assists in drafting routine correspondence, memoranda, letters, invitations and other documents. • Supports communication in writing documents and liaising with partners to collect information relevant to the implementation of the human rights workplan.

Administrative support to programs Provides administrative support for missions, conferences, workshops, training, technical meetings.

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management

• Human rights, at national or international levels is required. • Previous experience working with the United Nations or other multilateral organizations is an advantage.

Other desired technical knowledge/ skills • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills. • Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development; • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel; • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, among others), email, and internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; • Sound security awareness.

The assignment will be in Brasília (DF). Brasília is a very pleasant city to visit and live in. The central area, known as “Plano Piloto”, is considered safe and there are no reports of threats against UN personnel. Ordinary precautions should be taken, since Brasília is a big city and has the same characteristics of such cities in the whole world. Therefore, it is advisable to take the same cautions you should do when you are visiting a major metropolitan destination, especially at nighttime. Brasilia is classified Hardship A.

The nation’s capital, Brasilia, was founded in 1960. It is considered as one of the major examples of the modernistic movement in architecture and urban planning in the 20th century and was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. The average temperature is 22oC, rising to over 30oC during the hottest period. The hottest month in Brasilia is September and the coolest month is July. Planned for only 500,000 inhabitants, Brasilia has seen its population grow much more than expected. Several satellite towns have been created over the years to house the extra inhabitants. Brasilia’s total population (including the satellite cities) is now over two million inhabitants. Outdoor recreational activities include basketball, cycling, trekking, picnicking, riding, sailing, soccer, sunbathing, swimming, tennis and volleyball.

The level of security in Brazil is moderate (3). The United Nations Security Department - UNDSS Brazil advises to exercise a high degree of caution in Brazil due to the high levels of serious crimes and violence, particularly in large cities. All UN personnel should scrupulously follow UNDSS procedures and recommendations during their assignment in Brazil.

For missions in rural areas or indigenous reserves, special procedures may be applied. UN personnel should consult the local DSS office in advance.

As this is a national assignment of UN Volunteers, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for organizing their own housing and other essential assets. UN National Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan. https://www.unv.org/

You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.”

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Potential interview questions

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unv.org