Intern, Special Procedures

Work Location

Geneva, Switzerland

Expected duration

This full-time 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.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Office of the United Nations (UN) 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 Special Procedures Sections in the Thematic and Special Procedures Division. The Special Procedures are responsible for thematic research and policy development, human rights mainstreaming across all work areas of the United Nations system, development of tools and learning packages and provision of expertise to a variety of stakeholders on a wide range of human rights themes. They support mandate holders appointed by the Human Rights Council– Special Rapporteurs, Working Groups or Independent Experts, to report and advise on human rights from a thematic perspective. The Division comprises three Branches, specifically: Equality and Non-Discrimination (END), which provides support to a group of independent human rights experts (also referred to as mandate holders) appointed by the United Human Rights Council to report and advise on thematic human rights issues which include 11 special procedure mandates: sexual orientation and gender identity; violence against women and girls, discrimination against women and girls; people of African descent; racism, minorities, indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, sale of children, religion or belief, and older persons. Rule of Law, Accountability and Civic Space (RACS), which provides support to a group of independent human rights experts (also referred to as mandate holders) appointed by the United Human Rights Council to report and advise on thematic human rights issues which include: Section RACS I: 10 special procedure mandates, namely those on arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, countering terrorism, torture, summary executions, independence of judges and lawyers, truth, slavery, trafficking in persons, and international order; and Section RACS II: eight special procedures mandates mandates: freedom of assembly and association, freedom of opinion or expression, human rights defenders, business and human rights, privacy, mercenarism, migrants, and internally displaced persons. Development, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (DESC), which provides support to a group of independent human rights experts (also referred to as mandat...