Internship-Human Rights (Regional)

Contract

This is a I-1 contract. It usually requires 0 years of experience, depending on education. More about I-1 contracts.

Org. Setting and Reporting The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), part of the United Nations Secretariat, is the leading UN entity on human rights mandated work for the protection of all human rights for all people; to help empower people to realize their rights; and to assist those responsible for upholding such rights in ensuring that they are implemented. The fundamental pillars of OHCHR’s work globally include: (1) strengthening the rule of law and accountability for human rights violations; (2), enhancing and protecting civic space and people’s participation; (3) enhancing equality and countering discrimination: (4) integrating human rights in sustainable development; (5) early warning, prevention and protection of human rights in situations of conflict and insecurity; and (6) increasing implementation of the international human rights mechanisms' outcomes.

This announcement broadcasts international internships based in the OHCHR Regional Office for South-East Asia (SEARO). Established in 2002, the Regional Office for South-East Asia acts as an expert resource and plays a catalytic and convening role, helping to bring human rights standards and mechanisms into discussions on political, social, economic and developmental issues amongst governmental and non-governmental actors. A combination of technical support and capacity building with key partners and advocacy on human rights issues of concern has formed the basis of the Regional Office’s work, including with government authorities, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), national human rights institutions, civil society and the UN system. In addition to its work on the six fundamental pillars, SEARO is working on a number of thematic areas including migration, climate change, digital space and business and human rights and the Office aims to integrate gender into all areas of its work. SEARO covers Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam, and it also supports OHCHR’s work elsewhere in the Asia and Pacific region. For further information, please see https://bangkok.ohchr.org/

Based in Bangkok, Thailand, under the overall direction of the Regional Representative/ Head of office, the intern reports daily to the Human Rights Officer responsible for the area of work under assignment. This assignment will be offered for a period of six (6) months, starting May 2020. PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THE RESULTING GLOBAL TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS, THE INTERNSHIP WILL ONLY START ONCE THESE RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN LIFTED. THEREFORE, INTERESTED CANDIDATES ARE ENCOURAGED TO INDICATE THEIR LATEST DATE OF AVAILABILITY TO START THEIR INTERNSHIP.

This internship is an UNPAID and full-time engagement that provides a framework through which students from diverse academic backgrounds gain exposure to the work of the United Nations by way of their service within Secretariat entities. Applicants should have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations with a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter, and have the demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs - which includes willingness to understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

THE UNITED NATIONS IS COMMITTED TO BUILDING A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE WORKFORCE AND WELCOMES APPLICANTS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO MIGRANTS AND/OR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

APPLICANTS SHOULD INDICATE THEIR PRESENT MATRICULATION STATUS AND PERIOD OF AVAILABILITY IN THE APPLICATION COVER LETTER.

Responsibilities The intern shall support OHCHR in fulfilling its mission: to work for the protection of all human rights for all people; to help empower people to realize their rights; and to assist those responsible for upholding such rights in ensuring that they are implemented.

Daily responsibilities of the OHCHR SEARO Human Rights intern will depend on the individual's background, and the needs of the Office. Specific duties may include but are not limited to: monitoring and analysis of developments and trends (i.e. human rights, politics and conflict) in South-East Asia; researching and drafting internal and external notes and reports; preparing daily news updates with information on the human rights situation in the region; supporting SEARO’s engagement with the UN human rights mechanisms, including Special Procedures and Treaty Bodies; assisting with the organization of workshops and seminars; maintaining and developing information and resource tools; updating information on SEARO’s website; participating and taking notes in meetings/conferences, as requested; and performing other duties as requested by the supervisor, as appropriate.

Competencies PROFESSIONALISM: Shows pride in work and in achievements; Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; Remains calm in stressful situations.

COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

CLIENT ORIENTATION: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients" and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education To qualify for the United Nations Secretariat internship programme applicants must, at the time of their submission, be enrolled in the final academic year of a first-level university degree programme programme (i.e. Bachelor's degree or equivalent degree); be enrolled in a graduate school programme (i.e. Master's degree or equivalent degree, or higher) or have completed an aforementioned academic degree, preferably in the area of law, political science, international relations, social sciences or a related field, AND, if selected, must commence the internship on the date indicated on the acceptance letter.

Work Experience Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Thai, Burmese, Vietnamese and/or Bahasa is desirable.

Assessment Incomplete applications/personal history profiles (PHPs) will not be reviewed. OHCHR Regional Office for South-East Asia hiring managers will directly contact short-listed applicants for an interview. For this reason, in the application cover letter it is important that you:

- Specify your general interest in OHCHR, including in international human rights, the South-East Asia region and/or the Regional Office; - Indicate recently obtained academic degree or the scheduled graduation for university study currently underway; - Specify your period of availability and earliest commencement date; and - Indicate information technology (IT) skills and programs in which you are proficient.

Download the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which is available for the hearing impaired, in both official working languages HERE at: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Pages/Language.aspx?LangID=eng OR https://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Pages/Language.aspx?LangID=frn

IN ADDITION TO SPECIFYING THREE REFERENCES IN THE SUBMISSION, APPLICANTS ARE ADVISED TO SUMMARIZE THEIR PRIMARY THEMATIC AND/OR GEOGRAPHICAL PILLARS AREA(S) OF INTEREST IN THE APPLICATION COVER LETTER.

Special Notice Family relations: Applicants who are children or siblings of a staff member shall not be eligible to apply for an internship at the United Nations. For the purpose of participation in the internship programme, “child” means: (a) the child of a staff member; (b) the child of the spouse of a staff member (stepchild); or (c) the son- or daughter-in-law of a staff member. “Sibling” includes a half-sibling or step-sibling.

Terms and conditions: Feel free to download the UN Secretariat internship programme administrative policy document in either of the Secretariat’s official working languages (English and French) at: http://undocs.org/ST/AI/2020/1

Application process: Qualified individuals who have already established an Inspira account (https://inspira.un.org/ ) may apply directly to this and other opportunities with the United Nations Secretariat at: https://careers.un.org

Working hours: Interns must adhere to the established weekly working hours of the duty station where the assignment is located though not exceeding five days per week (35 hours) with one hour for a lunch break.

United Nations Considerations According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.