Intern - Human Rights [temporary]

The Office of the United Nations 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 with the Emergency Response Section (ERS). Located within the Field Operations and Technical Cooperation Division (FOTCD), which coordinates the development and implementation of OHCHR's country engagement strategies, the Emergency Response Section coordinates rapid response activities and provides specialized technical and operational support to field presences, geographic sections and OHCHR leadership in the areas of peace missions, early warning and preparedness, fact-finding, investigation, establishment and running of field presences and humanitarian action.

The Section comprises i) the Humanitarian Action Unit (HAU), which enhances OHCHR operational capacity in humanitarian action through developing functional partnerships with other Inter-Agency Standing Committe (IASC) and Protection Cluster members; ii) the Investigation Support Unit (ISU), which provides strategic expert advice on rapid deployment missions and human rights investigation to geographic sections; the iii) the Risk Analysis and Prevention Unit (RAPU), which supports and develops early warning analysis by the Office with a view to promoting and enhancing preparedness and early action planning and response; and the iv) the Information Management and Data Analytics Unit (IMDAU), which helps the office better deliver reliable evidence-based analysis on multiple situations simultaneously and identify appropriate interventions to prevent human rights violations.

Based in Geneva, Switzerland, under the overall guidance of the Chief of Section and general supervision of one of the respective Head of Unit, the intern reports to a respective Coordinator or Human Rights Officer in the area of assignment. 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 2023 to February 2024.

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.

IN THE CONTEXT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, APPLICANTS MAY BE REQUESTED TO UNDERTAKE THE INTERNSHIP REMOTELY IN VIEW OF CONSTRAINTS REGARDING VISA ISSUANCE, INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL AND ACCESS TO UN PREMISES. APPLICANTS MUST BE WILLING AND PREPARED TO UNDERTAKE THE INTERNSHIP REMOTELY FOR A PART OR THE ENTIRETY OF THE INTERNSHIP.

**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 Emergency Response human rights intern will concern more specifically the assignment in the Humanitarian Action Unit. Duties may include but are not limited to collecting, centralizing and analyzing information on key developments related to emerging situations for channelling to the United Nations Operations and Crisis Centre (UNOCC), and in coordination with the Coordinator or the Human Rights Officer and, in particular, the intern may:
Support with preparation for, assist and attend, as relevant, inter-agency meetings; conduct any necessary follow-up, including drafting briefing notes/talking points, drafting meeting minutes/notes to the file and briefing unit members on recommendations and action points; conduct research as requested and provide inputs to OHCHR and inter-agency tools/ reports/processes; update and maintain the Human Rights and Humanitarian Action start-up kit and portal; liaise with relevant in-house and external partners as necessary, and generally assists the unit in preparing for in-house and inter-agency processes; assist the section with United Nations Operations and Crisis Centre reporting, on a part-time basis; and perform other tasks as requested by the Unit Head or respective supervisor, as