Background

Objective:

Internships offer outstanding graduate-level students the opportunity to acquire working experience with UN Agencies. The internship programme provides a knowledge and understanding of UN goals, principles and activities. It complements development-oriented studies with hands-on experience in the areas of democratic governance, human rights, recovery and peacebuilding, and sustainable development.

Mode of Performance: This is a remote (home-based) internship.

Description:

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is the leading UN entity on human rights. OHCHR has a unique mandate to promote and protect all human rights for all people. It also plays a crucial role in safeguarding the integrity of the three interconnected pillars of the United Nations – peace and security, human rights, and development.

This internship assignment is situated within the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU). HRMMU monitors, documents, reports, and advocates on the human rights and IHL situation throughout the Ukraine, including in Crimea and other areas of the country that are or have been under the occupation of the Russian Federation. The overall objective is to strengthen the protection of human rights of men, women, girls and boys in the context of the armed conflict in Ukraine, with a major focus on protection of civilians in armed conflict, including civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure; grave IHL and IHRL violations, such as summary executions, enforced disappearance, torture and ill-treatment, conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), rights of prisoners of war (POWs); rights of protected persons in occupied territory; harm caused by conduct to hostilities to social, economic and cultural rights, including remedy and reparation to victims of human rights violations; fair trials in conflict-related cases, and impact of the war on civic space.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Head of the UN HRMMU and the direct supervision of the Human Rights Officer (Legal unit), the Intern will be responsible for the following duties:

• Contribute to research, collection, documentation and analysis of information pertaining to the human rights situation in the area of assignment;
• Provide support in monitoring legislative and policy developments related to the human rights situation in the area of assignment;
• Assist in legal analysis of legislative and policy documents related to the human rights situation in the area of assignment concerning their compliance with international standards;
• Contribute to providing background context related to the human rights situation in the area of assignment;
• Contribute to providing input and advice on human rights issues as relevant to the mission’s work in the area of assignment;
• Help with preparation of briefing, interviews notes, analytical documents and substantively contribute to the production of various documentation and reports;
• Assist in organizing events and meetings;
• Perform any other duties as assigned.

Competencies

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Required Skills and Experience

Eligibility Criteria:

Interns shall be selected on a competitive basis. The following minimum qualifications are required:

• Applicants must at time of application meet one of the following academic requirements:
  • be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme in Law / International Law (Bachelor’s Degree), or
  • be enrolled in a graduate degree programme in Law / International Law (Master’s Degree or higher), or
  • have recently graduated with a university degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above) in a relevant area and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation;
  • be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship programme and undertake the internship as part of this programme.
• Fluency in English and Ukrainian.
• Excellent computer skills (Microsoft Office applications).
• Excellent interactive and interpersonal skills, and the ability to work in a multicultural environment.

Duration of Internship:

This internship assignment shall be offered for an initial period of three (3) months with possible renewable for a combined period of six (6) months, with a commencement date as soon as possible.

Financial Aspects:

Interns are eligible for a monthly stipend to cover costs associated with the internship.

Status of Interns:

• Interns are not considered as having the status of staff member.
• Interns must not represent the UN in any official capacity or commit resources on its behalf.
• Interns must not apply for or be appointed to a position that should be encumbered by a staff member during the period of their internship.
• Interns are expected to fulfil the terms of their internships. Therefore, the internship period must not be foreshortened for the purposes of allowing an intern to apply for a position.

Application:

Interested eligible candidates must submit:

• Resume (in English)
• Cover letter (in English)