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APPLY FOR AN INTERNSHIP ROLE IN THE OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS (UN) HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (OHCHR) IN GENEVA

Application Deadline: 04 August 2023

The Office of the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is the Secretariat department responsible for strengthening international human rights mechanisms; enhancing equality and countering discrimination; combating impunity and strengthening accountability and the rule of law; integrating human rights in development and in the economic sphere; widening the democratic space; and early warning and protection of human rights in situations of conflict, violence and insecurity.

This announcement broadcasts international internship assignments based in the Office of the Director of the Human Rights Council and Treaty Mechanisms Division (CTMD). Consisting of three branches, the Council and Treaty Mechanisms Division has a core mandate to support the Human Rights Council (HRC) and its mechanisms, as well as the 10 human rights treaty bodies and with the administration of a number of Voluntary Trust Funds.

Based in Geneva, Switzerland, under the overall direction of the Special Assistant to the Director of Division the intern reports to the Human Rights Officer in the assigned work team. This assignment shall be offered for an initial period of three (3) months, renewable for a combined period of six (6) months, upon further approval by the supervisor, with an initial commencement date ranging/starting from September/October 2023.

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

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.

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 Human Rights Council and Treaty Mechanisms intern may include but are not limited to follow-up on the implementation of international human rights instruments, including recommendations of treaty bodies and mechanisms of the Human Rights Council (HRC), update information regarding substantive matters in the field of human rights; assist in supporting the work of treaty-established bodies mechanisms; prepare statistics, keep track and compile information on the engagement with human rights mechanisms; maintain relevant database and webpages; draft correspondence such as good stories on the impact of human rights mechanisms, conduct variety of research, collect and disseminate, as appropriate, information pertaining to the Division; contribute to outreach and human rights mainstreaming initiatives; attend to queries/ requests from the Director and the Branch Chiefs; facilitate internal exchange of information and practices as well as coordination on relevant human rights mechanisms and with the other parts of the Office and the United Nations (UN); assist in the dissemination of information about the work of human rights mechanisms; undertake research on issues of relevance to the work of the Division; assist in facilitating the organization of non-governmental organizations (NGO) related meetings in the context of the Human Rights Council and Universal Periodic Review (UPR) sessions and other meetings, as appropriate, its subsidiary bodies, particularly through coordinating the receipt and processing of requests, verifying eligibility, preparation of documentation and materials, coordinating coverage, attending and providing support during meetings and ensuring follow-up as appropriate; assist with collaborative work and activities organized with other Divisions, United Nations agencies and bodies; Perform other related duties 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.
  • TECHNOLOGICAL AWARENESS: Keeps abreast of available technology; Understands applicability and limitations of technology to the work of the office; Actively seeks to apply technology to appropriates tasks; Shows willingness to learn new technology.

Education

To qualify for the United Nations Secretariat internship programme, applicants must, at the time of submission, be a recent graduate or enrolled in a graduate school programme (i.e. Master’s degree or equivalent degree, or higher) or, be a recent graduate or enrolled in the final academic year of a first-level university degree programme (i.e. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent degree) preferably in the area of law, political science, international relations, social sciences or a related field, OR have graduated with a university degree as defined above and, if selected, must commence the internship on the date specified in the Acceptance letter.

APPLICANTS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAMME.

Work Experience

No working experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme. Your training, education, advance course work or skills should benefit the United Nations during your internship.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship fluency in English or French is required, knowledge of the other is desirable. Knowledge of another United Nations official language would be an advantage (i.e. Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).

Assessment

Incomplete applications/personal history profiles (PHPs) will not be reviewed. Human Rights Council and Treaty Mechanisms Division 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 the human rights issues, including their political, ethnic, racial, gender equality and socio-economic dimensions and, particularly in the work of the Division;
-Indicate the scheduled graduation for university study currently underway or more or actual graduation date for recently obtained degree;
-Indicate information technology (IT) skills and programs in which you are proficient;
-Specify your period of availability and earliest commencement date; and
-Provide three references in support of submission.

Download the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which is available for the hearing impaired, in the official United Nations working languages at:

For English click here on https://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Pages/Language.aspx?LangID=eng, for French click here on https://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Pages/Language.aspx?LangID=frnSpecial 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.

CONDITIONS AND TERMS: Download the Secretariat UN Internship programme administrative policy in either of the Organization’s official working languages (i.e. English and French) at: http://undocs.org/ST/AI/2020/1

APPLICATION PROCESS: You may view the full list of United Nations Secretariat employment opportunities at: https://careers.un.org. Qualified individuals who have created an Inspira account may apply directly at: https://inspira.un.org/

WORKING HOURS: Interns must adhere to the established weekly working hours of the duty station where the assignment is located. Working hours shall not exceed 5 days per week (40 hours), including one hour 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.

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

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.

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