Mission and objectives

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is part of the United Nations Secretariat and leads the organization’s activities to promote and protect human rights around the world. It is headed by the figure of the High Commissioner, the United Nations Chief Human Rights Officer, who is appointed by the Secretary-General. The OHCHR has presences in more than 60 countries, fulfilling its mandate (established by General Assembly resolution 48/141 of December 20, 1993) to support the promotion and protection of all universally low human rights. The Office’s mandate includes support for the work of international human rights mechanisms. Based in Santiago, Chile, the OHCHR Regional Office for South America has the role of supporting States, civil society, intergovernmental organizations and the United Nations system in the promotion and protection of human rights in the region covering Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Uruguay. To this end, the OHCHR Regional Office for South America has human rights advisers who work in the United Nations Resident Coordinator Offices in the countries under its mandate.

Context

The Resident Coordinator System encompasses all organizations of the United Nations that have operational activities in the country. As the designated Representative of the UN Secretary-General and leader of the UN Country Team (UNCT), the UN Resident Coordinator (UNRC), in consultation with the UNCT, assumes overall responsibility and coordination of the developmental activities of the UN carried out at country level. The UNCT is composed of representatives of the UN funds and programmes, specialized agencies and non-resident UN agencies. The Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) is mandated to support the RC and the UNCT in the developmental activities of the UN carried out at country level, including interagency initiatives and structures. In line with the Secretary-General initiative Human Rights up Front, which aims to strengthen prevention of issues with serious human rights consequences, since 2014 the RCO counts with a specific human rights component. The human rights team is comprised of a National Human Rights Advisor and a Human Rights Assistant. The National Human Rights Advisor also acts as a focal point for OHCHR’s Regional Office in Santiago, Chile. The UN Country Team in Brazil has various interagency working structures to ensure a coordinated action in the country and implement joint activities under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator. The UN Volunteer Human Rights Assistant will integrate the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office team and will work in close cooperation with UN Entities.

Task Description

Within the delegated authority and under the overall supervision of the UN Resident Coordinator, functional support and guidance from OHCHR and direct/ operational supervision of the UN Human Rights Adviser (UNHRA), in close cooperation with UN Agencies, the UN Volunteer Human Rights Assistant will undertake the following tasks: Program support delivery • Assists human rights research and analysis, and contributes to the preparation of re-ports, briefings, studies, background papers, conceptual notes, among others. • Supports human rights data collection, including regarding on the situation of human rights defenders. • Assists the NHRA in responding to internal and external inquiries and information requests. • Contributes to delivering training and technical assistance to government counterparts and other national stakeholders on UN human rights standards and mechanisms. • Supports the organization of missions, conferences, workshops, trainings, technical meetings, seminars and others. • Supports the liaison with relevant stakeholders, including UN organisms, government, civil society organizations and other relevant actors. • Performs related duties as required. Communication and advocacy • Assists in producing appealing and well written publications, online pieces and social media content, including videos and graphic materials. • Assists the planning and organization of UN events, and the UN participation in events related to human rights themes, including conferences, seminars and other external events, communicating clearly and efficiently with different kinds of audiences. • Assists in drafting routine correspondence, memoranda, letters, invitations and other documents. • Supports communication in writing documents and liaising with partners to collect information relevant to the implementation of the human rights workplan. Administrative support to programs Provides administrative support for missions, conferences, workshops, training, technical meetings.

Competencies and values

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management

Living conditions and remarks

The assignment will be in Brasília (DF). Brasília is a very pleasant city to visit and live in. The central area, known as “Plano Piloto”, is considered safe and there are no reports of threats against UN personnel. Ordinary precautions should be taken, since Brasília is a big city and has the same characteristics of such cities in the whole world. Therefore, it is advisable to take the same cautions you should do when you are visiting a major metropolitan destination, especially at nighttime. Brasilia is classified Hardship A. The nation’s capital, Brasilia, was founded in 1960. It is considered as one of the major examples of the modernistic movement in architecture and urban planning in the 20th century and was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. The average temperature is 22oC, rising to over 30oC during the hottest period. The hottest month in Brasilia is September and the coolest month is July. Planned for only 500,000 inhabitants, Brasilia has seen its population grow much more than expected. Several satellite towns have been created over the years to house the extra inhabitants. Brasilia’s total population (including the satellite cities) is now over two million inhabitants. Outdoor recreational activities include basketball, cycling, trekking, picnicking, riding, sailing, soccer, sunbathing, swimming, tennis and volleyball. The level of security in Brazil is moderate (3). The United Nations Security Department – UNDSS Brazil advises to exercise a high degree of caution in Brazil due to the high levels of serious crimes and violence, particularly in large cities. All UN personnel should scrupulously follow UNDSS procedures and recommendations during their assignment in Brazil. For missions in rural areas or indigenous reserves, special procedures may be applied. UN personnel should consult the local DSS office in advance. As this is a national assignment of UN Volunteers, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for organizing their own housing and other essential assets. UN National Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan. https://www.unv.org/ You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.”