Internship - human rights

Work Location

Remote or in New York

Expected duration

three to six months

Duties and Responsibilities

Guided by General Assembly resolution 62/141, in which the Assembly established the mandate, the Special Representative is a global, independent advocate for the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against children. The SRSG acts as a bridge builder and a catalyst of actions in all regions, and across sectors and settings where violence against children may occur. She mobilizes action and political support to maintain momentum around this agenda and generate renewed concern at the harmful effects of violence on children; to promote behavioral and social change and to achieve effective progress. The mandate of the SRSG is anchored in human rights standards, promoting the universal ratification and effective implementation of core international conventions. The SRSG cooperates closely with human rights bodies and mechanisms, with UN funds and programmes and specialized agencies, and with regional organizations. She also promotes cooperation with national institutions and civil society organizations, including children and young people. The SRSG makes use of mutually supportive strategies, including the contribution to strategic meetings at the international, regional and national levels, the identification of good practices and experience across regions, sectors and settings; the organization of field missions; and the promotion of thematic studies and reports.

• Support monitoring of relevant developments regarding efforts to end violence against children;
• Assist with routine administrative tasks related to the work of the Office of the SRSG-VAC;
• Assist in organizing conferences, events, and meetings;
• Assist with note-taking and writing summaries/action points of internal and external meetings;
• Assist members of the team with research and other related tasks;
• Assist regional focal points in research at national, sub-regional and regional levels, updating country profiles and preparing country visits in the affiliated region.
• Assist the team members in strengthening child participation in the work of the Office, including in preparing and translating child friendly documents, collecting and documenting child and youth-led initiatives to eliminate all forms of violence at local, national, sub-regional, and regional levels, and helping grow the network of organizations encouraging children’s participation in vulnerable settings;
• Accompany team members to online and/or in-person meetings with delegates from Permanent Missions to meetings with other Secretariat offices and to sessions of the Security Council, General Assembly and other multilateral meetings;
• Perform any other functions as requested by the supervisor.

Qualifications/special skills

To qualify for an internship with the Unite...