Result of Service

OHCHR seeks a consultant, who will work in close coordination with relevant colleagues within the Anti-Racial Discrimination Section. The consultant will deliver the following: • Output 1: A background paper analysing, through a human rights-based approach, the racialized and intersectional impact of securitization, including within the context of increased xenophobia and related intolerance (about 60 pages). • Output 2: A list with indicators for monitoring processes of securitization, in order to enhance prevention of human rights violations. • Output 3: Data collection and illustration of trends regarding securitization of migration, including asylum seekers and refugees; securitization of health, including pandemics; securitization of enviornment and climate change, and any other relevant issues, as well as asses the intersectional impact of securitization on race, gender and religion. • Output 4: Organization of virtual and in person consultations with a variety of stakeholders, and preparation of documents, including concept notes, agenda, surveys, list of participants etc. • Output 5: Organization of a two-day expert meeting, in person, in Geneva, in 2025 to discuss the draft background paper and related materials • Output 6: A summary report of the expert meeting (maximum 15 pages).

Work Location

Home-based and Geneva

Expected duration

12 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The struggle against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance, is at the heart of the work of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Individuals from racialized and marginalized groups, including minorities, people of African descent and indigenous peoples, and in particular women and girls, face interconnected and compounded forms of discrimination in many areas of life. In this regard, OHCHR seeks to analyse the racialized and intersectional impact of securitization, including within the context of increased xenophobia and related intolerance. Securitisation theories analyse processes where non-military threats are presented as urgent security threats, requiring emergency measures. OHCHR seeks a consultant, who will work in close coordination with relevant colleagues within the Anti-Racial Discrimination Section (ARDS) and report to the Chief of ARDS. The consultant will: • Conduct research and prepare a background paper analysing, through a human rights-based approach, the racialized and intersectional impact of securitization, including within the context of increased xenophobia and related intolerance. • Identify possibilities to detect and monitor processes of securitization, including possible indicators, in order to enhance prevention of human rights violations. • Provide an overview of issues that have been presented as existential threats, hence “securitized”, requiring extraordinary measures. • Collect data and analyse patterns and trends regarding securitization of migration, including asylum seekers and refugees; securitization of health, including pandemics; securitization of environment and climate change, and any other relevant issues, as well as asses the intersectional impact of securitization on race, gender and religion. • Suggest strategic measures, at national, regional and international levels, to mitigate risks for human rights violations during processes of securitization. • Organize a 2-day, in-person, expert meeting in Geneva in 2025 to discuss and revise the draft background paper on the racialized and intersectional impact of securitization. • Revise the background paper on racialized and intersectional impact of securitization, in accordance with the comments made during the expert meeting, as well as in line with inputs from OHCHR and other relevant stakeholders. • Organize briefings and expert consultations, virtual and in person, with a variety of stakeholders. • Draft various documents, including concept notes, surveys and programme of work. The work of this home-based consultancy entails 12 months from wherever the consultant is located, and includes travel to Geneva for the expert meeting, which will be held in person in Geneva, in 2025.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced degree in international law, human rights, political science or international relations, or in a related field. • Extensive knowledge and experience on issues relating to international human rights standards and norms for addressing racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; • Very good knowledge of issues relating to securitization theory and practice, and its racialised and intersectional impact; • Good knowledge of intersecting forms of discrimination, including race, religion, gender, migration, health, sexual orientation etc. Experience in researching and drafting documents on intersecting forms of discrimination; • Proven expertise in research and excellent drafting skills; • Ability to analyse complex issues and make policy-oriented recommendations; • Experience in organizing high level meetings or conferences and facilitating thematic discussions; • Ability to work in multicultural environments.

Languages

Fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of Spanish is an advantage.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.