The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is the Secretariat Department in charge of strengthening international human rights mechanisms, promoting equality and combating discrimination, combating impunity and strengthening accountability and the rule of law, integrating human rights in development and the economy, expanding the democratic space, and early warning and protection of human rights in conflict situations, among other things.
Concerning the Internship
The intern reports to the respective OHCHR Human Rights Officer within the area of assignment, and is based in Kyiv, Ukraine (or another family duty station) under the overall supervision of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission’s Head.
This internship assignment may be granted for an initial period of three (3) months, renewable for a total of six (6) months, with a start date ranging from August 2021 to December 2021, subject to supervisor approval.
This internship is a full-time UNPAID internship that provides a framework for students from a variety of academic fields to get exposure to UN work through their service within Secretariat organisations.
Applicants should have a demonstrated keen interest in the United Nations’ work, as well as a personal commitment to the Charter’s ideals, and the ability to successfully interact with people of various cultural backgrounds and beliefs, including a willingness to understand and tolerate differing opinions and viewpoints.
Internship Responsibilities
The intern will assist OHCHR in carrying out its goal, which is to work for the protection of all human rights for all people, to assist people in realising their rights, and to assist those in charge of protecting such rights in seeing that they are implemented.
The tasks of a United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine/OHCHR human rights intern will vary depending on the individual’s background, but may include, but are not limited to:
- Assisting in the monitoring, documenting, analysis, and reporting of human rights violations in Ukraine.
- The intern may, for example, assist with research, collecting, documentation, and analysis of material relevant to the human rights situation in the assigned location;
- Contribute to the team’s human rights reports on a daily, weekly, monthly, thematic, and special issues/ad hoc basis;
- Assist in the identification of emerging and growing human rights problems and abuses, as well as response and capacity gaps, and help in the development of a response strategy;
- In conjunction with the supervisor and appropriate colleagues, draught briefings, analytical documents, and contribute to the development of documentation and other reports.
- In addition, the intern may assist in ensuring that the duties are completed in accordance with appropriate standards and methods of work, including for the protection and safe handling of information, in consultation with the supervisor.
- Participate in and/or contribute to lessons learned procedures, as well as perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
Eligibility
To qualify for the United Nations Secretariat internship programme, the applicants must, at the time of submission,
be a graduate or enrolled in a graduate school programme (i.e. Master’s degree or equivalent degree, or higher)
or,
be a graduate or in the final year of a first-level university degree programme (i.e. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent);
preferably in the fields of law, politics, international relations, social sciences, or a closely linked field,
OR
having received a university diploma as defined above and, if chosen, must begin the internship on the date specified in the Acceptance letter.
Work Experience: Applicants are not required to have professional work experience for participation in the programme.
The working languages of the United Nations Secretariat are English and French. Fluency in English is necessary for this internship. It is advantageous if you are fluent in Ukrainian. The ability to communicate in Russian is advantageous.
What is the procedure for applying?
- Applications and personal history profiles (PHPs) that are incomplete will not be reviewed. Short-listed applicants will be contacted directly by OHCHR hiring managers 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 Office;
- 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 programmes in which you are proficient;
- Specify your period of availability and earliest commencement date; and
Provide three references in support of submission.
STEP 1: Create an account on Inspira.
STEP 2: Sign in using the account details.
STEP 3: Start the application process.
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