Human Rights Associate

Volunteering Legal Crisis & Emergency Response Communications & PR

Overview

Assist in promoting human rights and monitor violations in Colombia.

You have:

• At least one year of experience in human rights monitoring, analysis and reporting is required.
• Familiarity with international human rights instruments and tools for the promotion and protection of human rights is required.
• Experience working on gender-based violence is desirable.
• Experience in women rights and/or collective rights is desirable.
• Experience working in a conflict or post-conflict setting is an asset.
• Ability to work and adapt professionally in a challenging environment is necessary.
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in MS Office and email/internet is required.
• Previous experience as a volunteer or in another culture is highly regarded.

Contract

This is a UNV International Youth contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Youth contracts.

The historical Peace Agreement signed in November 2016, by the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC-EP) has provided OHCHR with additional responsibilities on a wide range of human rights related components. This includes to monitor and report on public policies for the dismantling of criminal organizations and protecting human rights defenders, security for FARC members as they transition from ex combatants to fully fledged political party members, case review of detained FARC members, and accompanying victims in their search for truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence.

Under the direct supervision of the Coordinator of the field presence and the overall coordination of the OHCHR Deputy Representative in Colombia the UN Youth Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Assist in conducting field missions in order to gather relevant information and promote change and impact to improve the human rights situation in the designated area of responsibility. • Assist in receiving complaints and interviewing victims, and witnesses of violations of human rights and breaches of international humanitarian law in one or more selected areas under the responsibility of the Office. • Assist in conducting research and analysis with respect to specific human rights and groups such as indigenous peoples and other ethnic groups in the designated area of responsibility. • Assist the Coordinator in the preparation of monthly reports, particularly on human rights and international humanitarian law trends in the geographical or thematic area of assignment, including gender-specific issues according to international law. • Assist the Human Rights Officers in identifying and researching themes (including of political, ethnic, racial, gender, social, economic, natural or causing civil unrest in the country or geographic area), and in maintaining the human rights database up to date. • Provide support to the Human Rights Officers and Coordinator in the registration and analysis of cases of violations of human rights and breaches of international humanitarian law in the Office database, including proper legal qualification. • Assist the Human Rights Officers in the preparation of external activities such as workshops, seminars and courses. • As required upon request of the Coordinator, represent the Field Office at meetings, events or missions to the field. • Identify key contacts and opportunities for strategic partnerships to facilitate communication efforts. • Respond to a variety of inquiries and information requests. • Perform other related duties as required.

☒ Accountability ☒ Adaptability and Flexibility ☒ Client Orientation ☒ Commitment and Motivation ☒ Communication ☒ Ethics and Values ☒ Professionalism ☒ Working in Teams

(ideally one year):

• Human rights monitoring, analysis and reporting is required. • International human rights instruments and tools for the promotion and protection of human rights is required. • Working on gender-based violence is desirable. • Women rights and/or collective rights is desirable. • Experience working in a conflict or post-conflict setting is an asset. • 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 MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment; • Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded;

San Juan de Pasto is the capital of the department of Nariño, located in southwestern Colombia. It has an urban population of about 500,000 inhabitants. The climate varies throughout the year, due to factors such as latitude, altitude and winds. The average temperature is between 9.5°C and 17°C. The city is located in the "Valle de Atriz", in the Andes Mountains, at the foot of the Galeras volcano, at an altitude of 2,527m above sea level. It is bordered to the south by the Republic of Ecuador, to the north by the department of Cauca, to the east by the department of Putumayo and to the west by the Pacific Ocean. Pasto is the city with the largest institutional presence in the department. It is the centre of operations for administrative and political decisions.

Health information: it is advisable to be vaccinated against yellow fever and to check if the itinerary includes malaria endemic areas. It is advisable to take the necessary prophylaxis and precautionary measures to prevent mosquito bites. For travellers to the Pacific Coast, it is advisable to follow appropriate hygiene measures to avoid diseases such as typhoid fever, hepatitis and diarrhoea. Most of the institutions that make up the health network of the department of Nariño are located in Pasto. It has six hospitals and four clinics for secondary and tertiary care. For primary health care there are seven health centres and two health posts.

According to the Pasto sanitation company, in urban areas 93% of the population has access to water and sanitation. In rural areas, only 74 per cent of the population has access to water and 33 per cent to sanitation.

Safety and security: Both the National Police and the army have a presence in Pasto. Common crime, robberies, extortion and assaults by armed criminals in the streets affect the overall security of the city. Demonstrations and strikes are regular.

Pasto's most important natural hazard is the Galeras volcano. This volcano has been active with seismic movements caused by volcanic activity for at least the last seventeen years. At the moment, the Galeras volcano is at yellow level which means "Changes in the behaviour of the volcanic activity". According to the new Security Level System, the threat level in the city of Pasto is classified as (3-MODERATE).

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Potential interview questions

Added 2 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unv.org