UNV Human Rights Officer - Defenders, Freedom of Expression and Democratic Space

Contract

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

The agreement between OHCHR and the government of Mexico includes human rights monitoring and legislative advocacy. The objectives of OHCHR-Mexico include the following:

• Provide federal & state authorities with adequate information to protect human rights and address human rights violations; • Identify states with deficiencies in their local legal framework with regard to human rights protection and work with local authorities to assist in overcoming said gaps; • Establish and strengthen dialogue on human rights issues with Mexican authorities; • Strengthen the effectiveness of UN Special Procedures by: - maintaining the mechanisms informed on trends and cases - building local actors’ capacities to utilize them • Ensure that a gender perspective is included in activities carried out by the Office. • Provide up-to-date and accurate information and analysis to OHCHR on trends, concerns, and individual cases.

The aforementioned objectives are achieved through carrying out the following activities:

• Documentation, systematization and analysis of human rights information; • Carry out regular field missions; • Ensure that women´s human rights are considered both in interoffice activities and in activities with counterparts; • Exchange of relevant information, standards and recommendations with authorities and counterparts; • Drafting of statements, reports or communications on human rights cases or situations of concern; • Participation in thematic tasks forces on priority issues of OHCHR Mexico; • Receive complaints from the public and offer guidance and assistance on procedural matters related to human rights.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Democratic Space Unit Coordinator or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV Human Rights Officer / Defenders, Freedom of Expression and Democratic Space will:

• Research and collect information pertaining to human rights issues through monitoring human rights situations at the field level and from a variety of data sources (e.g. publications and the press) to keep abreast of issues/events and provide up-to-date information; • Interview human rights victims, particularly human rights defenders and journalists, 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 human rights defenders, journalists and freedom of expression, and recommend actions to be taken; • Participate in the thematic tasks forces that have been created within OHCHR Mexico to coordinate activities and strategies related to priority issues; • Establish working relationships with state and federal authorities and provide them with technical assistance, to strengthen the level of compliance with international human rights obligations; • Document cases of women´s human rights violations; • Draft a variety of reports and correspondence relating to human rights matters/cases; • Participate in human rights training programmes for government officials, representatives of the civil society and human rights non-governmental organizations (in order to promote national capacity building; • Participate in United Nations interagency groups and other meetings, fora, seminars, etc; • Work with UN and non-governmental partners in the country to integrate human rights, including gender considerations, in their programmes; • Assist in the consolidation of knowledge and necessary tools within the United Nations system in Mexico in order to mainstream human rights in its actions;
• Assist in establishing working-level cooperation with relevant government ministries and State institutions to assist in strengthening their capacity for protection and promotion of human rights; • Receive complaints of alleged human rights violations and give legal advice to victims; • Perform other tasks as required.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Results/Expected outputs

• As an active OHCHR Mexico team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to OHCHR Mexico and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: • Provision of monitoring and analysis of human rights situations and individual cases of human rights violations. • Enhanced expertise in the thematic areas that will be worked on, as part of the tasks forces. • Established relationships with local and federal authorities and initiated changes in the local legal framework. • Ability to carry out human rights training workshops. • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed. • 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

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to OHCHR; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable OHCHR procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to coordinate with a range of different actors; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities; • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff, military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;

in the protection/promotion of human rights and related areas. Field experience and knowledge of the Latin American Region and women´s rights is an asset.

Other skills: Computer skills

Current Security situation in Mexico is considered as stable, nevertheless common crime activities as robbery, theft, "Express kidnap" among others , represent a serious threat to any citizen living in Mexico, There is no direct threat to UN Staff or other International organization, UNDSS security system consider Mexico in Level 2, movement within Mexico DF could be done without restrictions however staff must adopt basic precautions, any movement outside from Mexico DF must be cleared by UNDSS system in place. In relation to drug-related violence, the greatest increase in hostility has taken place in the northern states, mainly in Chihuahua, Tamaulipas, Baja California, and Sinaloa; however, all staff members throughout Mexico should exercise caution and be aware of their surroundings.

Conditions of Service

The initial contract is issued upon arrival for the period indicated above. The contract can be extended depending on continuation of mandate, availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectancy of renewal of the assignment.

A UN Volunteer receives a Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA), which is composed of a Monthly Living Allowance (MLA) and a Family Allowance (FA) for those with dependents (maximum three).

The Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) is paid at the end of each month to cover housing, utilities, transportation, communications and other basic needs. The VLA can be calculated using by applying the Post-Adjustment Multiplier (PAM) to the VLA base rate US$ 1,631. The VLA base rate is a global rate across the world, while the PAM is duty station/country-specific and fluctuates on a monthly basis according to cost of living. This method ensures that international UN Volunteers have comparable purchasing power at all duty stations irrespective of varying costs of living. The PAM is established by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) and is published at the beginning of every month on the ICSC website - http://icsc.un.org.

In non-family duty stations that belong to hardship categories D or E, as classified by the ICSC, international UN Volunteers receive a Well-Being Differential (WBD) on a monthly basis. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are provided a settling-in-grant (SIG) at the start of the assignment (if the volunteer did not reside in the duty station for at least 6 months prior to taking up the assignment) and in the event of a permanent reassignment to another duty station.

UNV provides life, health, permanent disability insurances as well as assignment travel, annual leave, full integration in the UN security framework (including residential security reimbursements).

UN Volunteers are paid Daily Subsistence Allowance at the UN rate for official travels, flight tickets for periodic home visit and for the final repatriation travel (if applicable). Resettlement allowance is paid for satisfactory service at the end of the assignment.

UNV will provide, together with the offer of assignment, a copy of the Conditions of Service, including Code of conduct, to the successful candidate.