Mission and objectives
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN Human Rights) is the leading UN entity on human rights. We represent the world’s commitment to the promotion and protection of the full range of human rights and freedoms set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Both the High Commissioner and the Office have a unique role to: Promote and protect all human rights: We speak out objectively in the face of human rights violations and help elaborate the standards that are used to evaluate human rights progress worldwide. Help empower people: Our research, education, and advocacy activities, contributes to the increased awareness and engagement by the international community and the public on human rights issues. This means thousands of people in all regions of the world are empowered to claim their rights. Assist Governments: Through our field presences, we help prevent abuses and contribute to defusing situations that could lead to conflict. Our monitoring and analysis feeds sensitive decision-making and development programming. We also provide capacity-building and legal advice to thousands, supporting the development and judicious enactment of laws and policies the world around. Inject a human rights perspective into all UN programmes: We mainstream human rights into all UN programmes to ensure that peace and security, development, and human rights – the three pillars of the UN – are interlinked and mutually reinforced.
Context
Host Institute: Deployed in March 2014, the Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) has a comprehensive mandate to monitor and report on the human rights situation throughout Ukraine, and to make recommendations to the Government and other actors to address human rights concerns as documented by the Mission. Recommendations outline concrete follow-up actions to address these concerns, prevent violations and mitigate emerging risks. HRMMU monitors, reports and advocates on the human rights situation through its presence in multiple locations both in Government-controlled area and in Donetsk in area controlled by Russian affiliated armed-groups. HRMMU will adapt to the changing situation in terms of the locations of presences. In accordance with General Assembly resolution 68/262, HRMMU also monitors remotely, reports and advocates on the human rights situation in Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. Organizational context and project description: In its first 55 days the Russian Federation military attack against Ukraine has resulted in significant civilian casualties, massive population displacement and serious human rights violations. The military offensive has created new hotspots of conflict, wreaking havoc and destruction in parts of Ukraine previously not directly affected by the ongoing conflict. OHCHR/HRMMU has recorded 5,121 civilian casualties: 2,224 killed and 2,897 injured between 24 February and 19 April, with actual figures considerably higher, as many reports are still pending corroboration. Over 5 million people have fled the country and 7.1 million were internally displaced by 19 April 2022. There has been significant damage to civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools and civilian housing. Disproportionate restrictions on freedom of movement have further isolated people residing in the conflict affected territory and residents in villages and cities located close to the areas affected by the hostilities, cutting off their access to basic goods, services and humanitarian aid, intensifying general hardship for the population. The populations in most vulnerable situations have been disproportionately affected and have seen their vulnerabilities increase. HRMMU has recorded cases of grave conflict-related human rights abuses, including torture, ill-treatment, abductions, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, summary executions, and sexual violence. The conflict has led to dramatic country-wide human, social and economic losses, all aggravated by persistent corruption and systemic human rights challenges, including insufficient accountability for human rights violations, a judiciary lacking independence and the absence of effective remedy for victims. In addition, the territories under the control of armed groups have experienced a breakdown of the rule of law, resulting in serious human rights violations, with no mechanism for victims to seek redress. Increasingly, HRMMU noted a shrinking space for civil society, with an atmosphere that is not conducive to the enjoyment of the fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association and religion. Please see OHCHR’s Public Quarterly and Thematic Reports with specific recommendations on the human rights situation in Ukraine for additional information accessible at: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/ENACARegion/Pages/UAReports.aspx
Task description
Under the direct supervision of the deputy head of the Mission, the International UN Youth Volunteer will: • Participate, as part of a team, in monitoring the human rights situation, including identifying emerging trends and patterns of human rights violations; • Provide support to liaising with relevant partners and stakeholders, including civil society organizations, national human rights institutions and international organizations, and foster and maintain their active engagement in the work of OHCHR in Ukraine; • Facilitate engagement with communities and human right defenders, particularly youth, to raise awareness of human rights and advocate for compliance with international human rights norms and standards; • Assist in conducting monitoring, research and information/data assessment to help produce analytical papers, reports, press briefing notes and other advocacy material in relation to the human rights situation in Ukraine; • Contribute to OHCHR’s periodic and ad hoc reports, bearing in mind OHCHR’s guidance on results-based management; • Provide inputs to various written communications such as talking points and briefing notes on relevant substantive/thematic issues; • Provide administrative and logistical support, including organizing events/meetings and field visits; • Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities. • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.
Eligibility criteria
Age
18 – 26
Nationality
Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.
Requirements
Required experience
0 years of experience in or demonstrated interest and/or experience in human rights, political affairs, international relations, law or related area. Experience working in a conflict or post-conflict setting is desirable. Human rights monitoring and/or reporting experience is desirable. • Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded. • Excellent drafting and editing skills in English are required • Fluency of Russian or Ukrainian language is required