Job: Human Rights Internship, I

Department/ Office

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Duty Station

NEW YORK

Posting Period

6 November 2013-6 December 2013

Job Opening number

13-HRI-OHCHR-31691-R-NEW YORK

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Organizational Setting and Reporting

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), New York Office, is seeking highly motivated graduate students who wish to gain professional experience within an international organization in the area of human rights to supplement their studies. This internship is a practical educational experience and will provide interns the opportunity to work in a multicultural, intergovernmental organization. Under supervision, interns are assigned projects and tasks that are relevant to their educational background and interests, and provide them with the opportunity to apply and further develop their theoretical knowledge.

The duration of the internship is between a minimum of 2 months to a maximum of 6 months depending on particular needs of OHCHR, New York Office.

The internship is not paid. Travel costs, travel arrangements (including visas), and living accommodations are the responsibility of the interns or their sponsoring institution.

The interns are not eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, any position in the professional or above categories, within the UN Secretariat for a period of six months following the end of their internship. Any employment with the UN at that point in time shall be subject to established recruitment and selection procedures.

Internship positions are fulltime. For more information on terms and conditions of UN internship, please visit the UN internet site at: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/sds/internsh/htm/documents.htm

For details on OHCHR's mandate, please visit its internet site at: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Pages/WelcomePage.aspx

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the human rights intern may be responsible for the following duties:

• Conduct research on human rights and related issues;
• Analyse information, developments, and trends related to human rights;
• Assist in the preparation of reports, background materials and other relevant documents;
• Assist in the organization of meetings, seminars, and related events;
• Attend meetings and prepare summaries of the proceedings;
• Assist in the preparation of outreach material such as talking points, correspondence and presentations.

Competencies

Applicants must demonstrate a keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter of the United Nations. Applicants must be computer literate in standard software applications. Applicants must also demonstrate the following competencies:

Communication:

• Speaks and writes clearly and effectively;

• Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from other 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 decisions, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position;

• Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Creativity:

• Actively seeks to improve programmes or services;

• Offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs;

• Promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas;

• Takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks outside the box;

• Takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things;

• Is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.

Education

• To qualify for an internship with the United Nations New York Headquarters Internship Programme, the following conditions must be met:
• Applicants must be enrolled in a degree programme in a graduate school (second university degree or higher) at the time of application and throughout the entire duration of the internship.
• Applicants from countries where higher education is not divided into undergraduate and graduate stages must have completed at least four years of full-time post secondary studies at a university or equivalent institution towards the completion of the degree and must be in their fifth year of studies at the time of application and throughout the entire duration of the internship.
• Applicants from all countries are accepted and underrepresented or unrepresented countries in the UN are encouraged to apply for an internship.

Work Experience

• Applicants are not required to have professional work experience for participation in the programme.
• However, work experience in relevant areas is an asset.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat.
• For the internship advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) is an advantage.

Assessment Method

• Should there be a need for an intern that matches the applicant's profile, the applicant will be contacted directly by the OHCHR, New York Office. Please note that due to the large number of applicants, the OHCHR, New York Office is not necessarily in a position to reply to each request and only short-listed applicants will be contacted for further consideration.

Special Notice

TO APPLY:

Create and complete a personal history profile (PHP) and a cover letter in the UN e-Recruitment system (careers.un.org). Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

The cover letter should state the following:

(1) The applicant's availability for the internship between 3 February 2014 and 31 December 2014.

(2) Title of the degree currently being pursued by the applicant and the specific subjects taken.

(3) Expected graduation date from the degree programme that the applicant is enrolled in.

(4) The applicant's objectives for undertaking an internship with the External Relations Unit,

OHCHR, New York Office and how the internship fits within the applicant's education/career plan.

United Nations Considerations

The United Nations shall place 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. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS' BANK ACCOUNTS.

More Info and Application