About the internship:

This announcement is on international internships with the OHCHR Regional Office for South America (ROSA). Covering seven countries, particularly Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay, OHCHR Regional Office for South America coordinates its activities and actions with Headquarters and other field presences. Based in Asunción, Paraguay, under the general guidance of the Deputy Regional Representative/Head of office, the intern shall report to the National Human Rights Adviser in Paraguay. The application for this UN internship is open now.

Quick details of internship:

Application period:  05 July 2020 to 02 June 2021

Posting Title: Internship – Human Rights (Temporary Job Opening)

Position Title: Intern – Human Rights

Organization: UN– Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

Duty Station: Asunción, Paraguay

Type: Unpaid and full-time

Duration: 3 to 6 months (upon further approval of the supervisor)

Job opening number: 20-Human Rights Affairs-OHCHR-135841-J-Asuncion (A)

Introduction to OHCHR:

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is the UN Secretariat department in charge of enhancing international human rights mechanisms, fostering equality and battling with discrimination, combating impunity and strengthening accountability, and the rule of law.

Summary of internship

This internship provides a framework through which students from diverse academic backgrounds to be subject to the work of the UN by way of their service within Secretariat entities. Interns must adhere to the defined weekly working hours of the duty location, though not exceeding five days/ week (35 hours) and a one-hour lunch break.

Duties & responsibilities

The intern shall support OHCHR in performing its mission:

• Working for the protection of all human rights for all people;
• Helping empower people to realize their rights; and
• Assisting those responsible for supporting such rights in ensuring that they are implemented.

Furthermore,

The daily responsibilities of Human Rights interns will depend on the individual’s background and duties and may include but are not limited to:

• Overseeing human rights, politics, socio-economic affairs and other developments in Paraguay;

And particularly, the intern may:

• Assist in drafting reports, background notes, talking points, summaries, and other documents;
• Help in providing information to United Nations human rights mechanisms such as treaty bodies and special procedures;
• Develop presentations and materials on human rights law and issues;
• Conduct research on international and national law, case law and make summaries thereof; participate in and summarize notes for workshops and meetings;
• Assist with conducting and managing conferences, training events, and other events;
• Help in reviewing, preparing and disseminating news and notes on human rights matters;
• Assist in preparing, drafting and checking public information materials;
• Assist in implementing public information and media activities, and translation of documentation; and
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualification and eligibility criteria

Applicants should be sharply interested in the work of the United Nations with a commitment to the principles of the Charter and have the proven skill to successfully communicate with people of differing cultural backgrounds and beliefs – which includes enthusiasm to realize and accept different opinions and views.

COMPETENCIES

• The applicant has to show dedication in work and in attainments; display professional skill and mastery of subject matter;
• Be faithful and efficient in living uo to commitments, catching deadlines and getting results;
• Get motivated by professional rather than personal concerns;
• Shows persistence when confronting complex problems or challenges; and
• Keeps composure in situations under stress.

COMMUNICATION:

• Has candid and effective verbal and written skills;
• Listen to others, accurately interprets messages from others and responds appropriately;
• Seek clarification, and show interest in having mutual communication; modifies language, tone, style and manner to match the audience; and
• Be open to sharing information and maintaining people informed.

TEAMWORK:

• Has to work collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals;
• Ask for input by genuinely respecting others’ views and expertise; is eager to learn from others;
• Prioritize team agenda rather than personal agenda; support and take actions in agreement with final group decision; and
• Gives credit to team achievements and admits joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

CLIENT ORIENTATION:

• The intern should consider all those service recipients to be “clients” and attempt to see things from clients’ point of view;
• Establish and maintain fruitful relations with clients by earning their trust and respect;
• Identify clients’ needs and conform them to the right solutions;
• Oversee developments underway inside and outside the clients’ environment to stay informed and foresee problems; provides clients with information on progress or flaws in projects; and
• Meet the timeline for delivery of products or services to beneficiaries.

Education

To be eligible for the United Nations Secretariat internship program, applicants must:

• Be registered in a graduate school program (i.e., Master’s degree or equivalent degree, or higher);
• Be enrolled in the last academic year of a first-level university degree (i.e., Bachelor’s degree or equivalent degree),
• Have completed an afore-mentioned academic degree, preferably in the area of law, political science, international relations, social sciences, or a related field, AND,
• If selected, you must begin the internship work within the date mentioned in the acceptance letter.

Language skills

English and French are the two official working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this program, fluency in English and Spanish is required; knowledge of Portuguese is an added advantage.

Assessment

Applicants must provide complete and exact information relating to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to qualify for the assignment. The hiring manager from Regional Office for South America (ROSA) will directly contact the short-listed candidates for an interview.

Imperfect applications/personal history profiles (PHPs) will not be considered.

Therefore it is crucial that in the cover letter you:

-Specify your availability and earliest commencement date;
-Specify your general interest in OHCHR, including in the area of international human rights and/or the work of the Office;
-Indicate the title and date of the recently achieved academic degree or the scheduled graduation date for study program currently underway; and
-Indicate information technology skills and programs in which you are proficient.

– Specify three professional references in the submission

How to apply?

Qualified international candidates may submit their applications online through the online recruitment platform after completing the requirements of the program.

Apply now

For more details and information regarding the program and useful information, please refer to the UN Career Website.