Human Rights Officer

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 .

The Office has 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 contribute 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 around the world.
• 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.

In carrying out its mission, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights:

• Gives priority to addressing the most pressing human rights violations, both acute and chronic, particularly those that put life in imminent peril
• Focuses attention on those who are at risk and vulnerable on multiple fronts
• Pays equal attention to the realization of civil, cultural, economic, political, and social rights, including the right to development
• Measures the impact of its work through the substantive benefit that is accrued, through it, to individuals around the world.

Since 2019, the OHCHR has been operating in Venezuela under the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator. Currently, the Office temporarily operates from Panama City, Panama, while discussions are ongoing for its return to Caracas, Venezuela.
The Office plays a crucial role in providing credible assessments of the human rights situation and challenges in the country and in supporting the effective implementation of UN human rights recommendations. The Office’s responsibilities include monitoring, documenting, and analyzing the human rights situation in Venezuela. It works to integrate human rights and gender equality considerations into the activities of the UN Country Team and humanitarian efforts.
Additionally, the Office supports and partners with civil society organizations and engages with relevant authorities to address human rights concerns, at the extent possible. It is also committed to promoting human rights observance and implementing recommendations from international human rights bodies. Finally, it reports on the general human rights situation in the country according to the mandates given by the Human Rights Council and the mandate of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, with a gender perspective.

The UN Volunteers will contribute to strengthening the strategic thematic priorities for the current planning cycle, with a particular focus on integrating a gender perspective. This role involves collaborating with various UN agencies, funds, and programs, as well as working closely with civil society organizations dedicated to the promotion and protection of human rights.

Under the direct supervision of Unit Coordinator or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Gather information and report on the human rights situation in the thematic area, including through contacts with other United Nations actors, humanitarian actors, and civil society.
• Support the assistance to civil society organizations to develop and implement policies and training programs with attention to gender perspective, including diversity and inclusive approaches.
• Conduct substantive research analysis of compliance of national legal framework and/or public policies with international human rights standards.
• Promote dialogue between local human rights and civil society networks, humanitarian actors, and the OHCHR Office in Venezuela, on measures to promote the observance of human rights.
• Use the OHCHR database to enter cases and document allegations and violations of human rights.
• Provide technical assistance and follow up to activities with counterparts and partners at different levels within the framework of the Office´s Mandate.
• Assist in other duties relevant to the post, as requested by the Unit Coordinator.