Human Rights Monitoring Associate

Volunteering Legal Security

Overview

Support monitoring and analysis of human rights situations and violations.

You have:

• At least 3 months experience in protecting or promoting human rights or related areas is required; ideally one year.
• Strong understanding of local governance and human rights in Mexico or similar contexts is desirable.
• Knowledge of environmental matters and skills in research and analysis would be an asset.
• Previous experience as a volunteer or exposure to another culture through internship or work 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 UN Youth Volunteer will be part of the Grave Human Rights Violations Unit, which currently consists of a coordinator and three staff members. The Grave Human Rights Violations Unit personally gives legal orientation to victims, particularly human rights defenders who search for their loved ones who have disappeared. The Grave Human Rights Unit also participates in field missions to follow up on cases of alleged human rights abuses, meeting with victims, family members of victims, local NGOs and government authorities. The Grave Human Rights Unit members collaborate in the activities of the task forces created in the Office around the main issues, such as torture, disappearances and the right of indigenous people to prior consultation, among others. In addition, the Grave Human Rights Unit prepares mission reports and reports for UN Special Procedures, treaty bodies and headquarters in Geneva.

As of January 23, 2024, over 110,000 individuals have been reported missing, marking a significant increase in disappearances between 2006 and 2024, with more than 98% occurring during this period. This surge correlates with a policy involving the deployment of armed forces for public security functions. Unlike disappearances in the second half of the last century, which were primarily politically motivated and executed by government agents and armed forces against opposition social groups, post-2006 cases involve a diverse range of perpetrators, modalities, and victims. Various patterns characterize these disappearances, including instances related to migration and affecting indigenous communities and LGBTIQ+ individuals. Predominantly, men aged 15 to 40 are impacted.

The OHCHR expresses deep concern about the specific victimization of women left to care for their families, searching for loved ones at their own expense while enduring severe social and economic effects. Women are often victims of violence, persecution, stigmatisation, extortion, and reprisals. Those searching, predominantly mothers, are also human rights defenders; some have been attacked for their involvement in searches and combating disappearances. Of the beneficiaries of the Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders, 70% are human rights defenders, and 15% are involved in searching for disappeared persons. Disappearances persist widely across the state, with almost absolute impunity and revictimisation prevailing.

Disappearances also affected journalists and human rights defenders directly. From January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2023, a total of 71 cases were recorded by OHCHR-Mexico, spanning various categories: 28 affected journalists, 38 affected human rights defenders, 1 affected media worker, and 4 collateral victims. Among these, 20 cases impacted indigenous individuals, 11 affected women, and 1 affected a transgender person. As of the recording date, 15 of these cases remain unresolved

Under the direct supervision of the Coordinator of Grave Human Rights Violations Unit the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Contribute to research and collect information on human rights issues through monitoring human rights situations at the field level and from a variety of data sources (e.g. communications, publications, the press) to keep abreast of issues/events and provide up-to-date information; • Participate in interviews with human rights victims, particularly human rights defenders who search for their loved ones, relevant authorities, and civil society organizations as part of the documentation of cases; • Assist in the analysis of information regarding substantive matters in the field of human rights, particularly related to journalists and human rights defenders who search for their loved ones, and recommend actions to be taken; • Assist in drafting inputs for reports, communications for UN reports, and correspondence relating to human rights matters; • Provide inputs for meetings with relevant authorities to assist in strengthening their capacity for the protection and promotion of human rights; • Perform other tasks as required.

Results/Expected Outputs

• Provision of monitoring and analysis of human rights situations and individual cases of human rights violations. • Analytical mission reports for all field missions • Accurate new and updated cases in the human rights database. • Contribution to communications on cases or human rights situations. • The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring, and formal on-the-job training, when working with (including supervising) national staff or (non-) governmental counterparts, including Implementing Partners (IPs); • Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in, and capacities developed

Accountability Adaptability and Flexibility Commitment to Continuous Learning Communication Ethics and Values Judgement and Decision-making Planning and Organizing Professionalism Respect for Diversity Working in Teams

protecting or promoting human rights and related areas is desirable. Demonstrated interest and/or experience of at least 3 months is required (ideally one year) • A strong understanding of local governance and human rights in Mexico, the Latin America region and/or similar global contexts is desirable. •Both knowledge of environmental matters and skills in research and analysis would be an asset. •Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded.

Mexico City is the capital of the United Mexican States. It is located in the center of the country, at an altitude of 2,300 meters above sea level. It covers a total area of 1,485 square kilometers and its population is approximately 8.8 million people. Climate: Daily high temperature is around 26°C throughout the year, exceeding 29°C or dropping below 22°C. Daily low temperatures range from 9°C to 11°C, falling below 6°C or exceeding 13°C. Carrying a light sweater is strongly recommended. Local currency: The national currency is the Mexican peso ($). The exchange rate against the United States dollar fluctuates around 18.00 pesos. The current exchange rate can be found here: www.banxico.org.mx/portal-mercado-cambiario/index.html. Money may be exchanged in hotels, the airport, banks and bureaux of change. Banking hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday. In banks you MUST present your passport. Credit and debit cards are accepted in most commercial establishments; however, it is recommended that you carry some cash, as there are small establishments that do not accept credit cards. Local time: Mexico City’s time zone is UTC/GMT-6 Electricity: 110 volts, 60 hertz (similar to the United States), and wall sockets may be for two- or three-pin plugs. Visitors wishing to use devices not designed for use in North America should bring an adapter with a voltage transformer. Water: Drinking tap water is not recommended; visitors are advised to consume only boiled or bottled water. Sales tax and tipping: Value added tax of 16% is levied on most products and services. In restaurants it is customary to leave a tip of between 10% and 15% of the total bill. Altitude: Mexico City stands at 2,239 metres above sea level, and visitors may experience some discomfort.

Mexico City is a family duty station A. It has very good infrastructure (health, housing, banking transportation, telecommunications, and recreational facilities)

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Potential interview questions

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