Mission and objectives

The Office of the United Nations 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.

Context

Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic MANDATE The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic was established on 22 August 2011 by the Human Rights Council through resolution S-17/1.The mandate of the Commission is to investigate all alleged violations of international human rights law since March 2011 in the Syrian Arab Republic. The Human Rights Council also tasked the Commission with establishing the facts and circumstances that may amount to such violations and of the crimes perpetrated and, where possible, to identify those responsible with a view of ensuring that perpetrators of violations, including those that may constitute crimes against humanity, are held accountable. The Human Rights Council has repeatedly extended the Commission’s mandate since then, most recently for an additional year through resolution 55/22, which was adopted on 4 April 2024. The Council requested the Commission of Inquiry to present an oral update during an interactive dialogue at its fifty-sixth session, and to present an updated report during an interactive dialogue at both the fifty-seventh and fifty-eight sessions of the Council. In addition to the Commission’s general mandate, it has also been given special mandates to look into particular events in the Syrian Arab Republic. In 2012, the Human Rights Council requested that the Commission of Inquiry urgently conduct a special inquiry into the events in El-Houleh (resolution S/19-1), in 2016 into the events in Aleppo (resolution S-25/1), in 2018 into the events in eastern Ghouta (resolution 37/1); in 2020 into events in Idlib and its environs (resolution of 22 June 2020) and again in 2020 to prepare a special report on arbitrary imprisonment and detention (resolution 44/21 of 17 July 2020).” Expected start date of the assignment is 05/11/2024.

Task Description

The Online Volunteer will; -Assist in Open Source Investigation needed for the completion of the report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic for the 57th regular session of the Human Rights Council. -Collect investigative leads from Open Sources: Produce daily and weekly written monitoring reports (1-2 pages per day) with collected information from Arabic social media, such as Telegram X, as well as Syrian and other Human Rights NGOs, media, academic journals etc. (2-3 hours per day). -Develop own Open Source Investigation skills relevant to allegations of violations of international human rights, international humanitarian and international criminal law in accordance with OHCHR’s methodology. (1-2 hours per week) -Assist in preserving information and evidence collected in accordance with applicable standards and protocols, and assists in determining its credibility and reliability. (1-2 hours per week) -Assist in conducting substantive research and analysis report on selected human rights issues/events of selected topics relevant to the are of responsibility (10 hours total).

Competencies and values

Living conditions and remarks