Duties and Responsibilities
This position is located in the Office of the Victims' Rights Advocate (OVRA). This internship opportunity is designed to be full-time and in person. The mandate of the Victims' Rights Advocate was created as part of the four-pronged strategy set out in the 2017 report of the Secretary-General to the General Assembly on special measures on protection from sexual exploitation and abuse: a new approach (A/71/818).
The mandate is directed to ensuring that the rights and dignity of victims are at the forefront of all elements of the United Nations system-wide response to sexual exploitation and abuse alleged to be perpetrated by United Nations uniformed or civilian personnel and non-United Nations troops serving under a Security Council mandate. The intern will support the work of the Office of the Victims' Rights Advocate and work under the supervision of the Senior Human Rights Officer. Within the delegated authority, the Human Rights intern will perform the following duties:
Conduct research and analysis on matters of concern to the work of the VRA with a particular focus on legal matters.
Prepare ad hoc short papers on topics related to the VRA's mandate and the victims' rights approach and, in particular on legal assistance.
Draft or contribute to the drafting of notes, background papers, talking points, speeches and other materials in the area of responsibility, especially legal assistance.
Attend and take notes of the proceedings of meetings and conferences.
Provide support for meetings of the Senior Victims' Rights Officers and Victims' Rights Focal Points.
Assist in communication and public information activities and outreach.
Perform other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications/special skills
Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
(1) Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or
(2) be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a university degree programme (minimum bachelor's level or equivalent). No working experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme. Be computer literate in standard software applications; Applicants should be able to demonstrate a keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter.
In addition, candidates should have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views. 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 the position advertised, fluency in English is required, Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.
Intern Specific text
Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken, may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer.