As the leading UN entity on human rights, OHCHR has an independent mandate to promote and protect human rights across the world and to mainstream human rights throughout the UN system. The Right to Health Cluster of the Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights Section leads the thematic work of the OHCHR on the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and economic, social, and cultural rights (ESCR), contributing to global policy development and providing advice and technical support to OHCHR country and regional offices as well as human rights components of the United Nations peace missions. It works to promote the indivisibility of human rights across the Office and engages with multiple stakeholders in advocating for the promotion and protection of economic, social and cultural rights and the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. Within this context, the right to health cluster team carries out research and analysis to develop the Office’s policy positions; supports the High Commissioner’s advocacy on the right to health and ESCR; fulfils General Assembly and Human Rights Council mandates related to the right to health and ESCR; and ensures collaboration with and support to the work of UN human rights mechanisms. A key pillar of our work is strengthening partnerships with UN entities, cities and local governments, national human rights institutions, and wider civil society to jointly promote the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and ESCR and to support our partners to integrate the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and ESCR in their work. The Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Section is situated in the Development and Economic and Social Issues Branch (DESIB) of the Thematic Engagement, Special Procedures and Right to Development Division (TESPRDD) of OHCHR. The intern will report to a designated Human Rights Officer. The intern is expected to provide substantive, organizational and logistical assistance to the Right to Health Cluster of the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Section.

Requirements:

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements: (a) be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme in Law, International relations, Political Science, Development or related subject (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); (b) be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme in Law, International relations, Political Science, Development or related subject (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent). Applicants must be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master’s or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PH.D. Programme. Do you meet any of the above criteria? If yes, please indicate which one and attach proof to the application. Please note that you will have to provide an official certificate at a later stage. Applicants to the UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work experience. However, a field of study that is closely related to the type of internship that you are applying for is required. Knowledge in the field of human rights and/or specifically on economic, social and cultural rights is desirable. Applicants should have good knowledge of standard software applications, especially MS Word, MS PowerPoint, and MS Teams.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English and French is required for the internship. Knowledge of Spanish is desirable. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat.