Work Location
Geneva, Switzerland. This internship is designed to be in person
Expected duration
6 months
Duties and Responsibilities
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. OHCHR’s mandate, its expertise, convening power and partnerships, its role as custodian of the human rights mechanisms (treaty bodies, special procedures and Universal Periodic Review), and its experience with enhancing civic space and supporting human rights defenders, uniquely position the Office to support ambitious, rights-based environmental action. Precisely, the type of action that the IPCC, the HRC and other authorities have confirmed will result in more effective development policies that benefit both people and planet. OHCHR’s work on the environment, climate change and human rights is led by its Environment and Climate Change Team in the Development and Economic and Social Issues Branch (DESIB) of the Thematic Engagement, Special Procedures and Right to Development Division (TESPRDD). The internship will take place within the Environment and Climate Change Team and the intern will report to the supervising Associate/Human Rights Officer. The intern will provide the Environment and Climate Change Team with assistance in substantive areas of its work. Tasks will include: 1. Conduct research on substantive areas of work of the Environment and Climate Change team. 2. Support the drafting of a range of materials including reports, publications, newsletters and briefings. 3. Support the organization of events on issues related to the right to a clean healthy and sustainable environment. 4. Follow and support OHCHR engagement in a range of meetings, consultations, and briefings, including webinars, MEAs COPs and the HRC. 5. Monitor the latest scientific evidence related to environmental crises and their human rights impacts. 6. Support coordination with and the dissemination of information to OHCHR colleagues and partners. 7. Support the preparation of HRC mandated activities. 8. Support efforts to strengthen OHCHR work to advance the right to a healthy environment at the regional and country level.
Qualifications/special skills
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 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. 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. Knowledge in the field of human rights and/or the environment 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 is required for the internship. 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.
Additional Information
Background Information The human rights framework spells out the responsibilities of duty bearers to right-holders with respect to all human rights harms, including those caused by environmental degradation. OHCHR’s Office Management Plan aims at ensuring that: “International and national environmental and climate policies and plans increasingly are implemented in accordance with international human rights standards.” At the global level, OHCHR was a leading advocate of recognition by the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly of the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment for all people. OHCHR works to advance the human right to a healthy environment and address the human rights impacts of climate change and other forms of environmental degradation, including in relation to migration. It does so, inter alia, by supporting HRC mandates and treaty bodies, developing communication, key messages and capacity-building materials, supporting relevant projects in OHCHR’ field presences, providing technical assistance to a range of stakeholders, promoting and protecting civic space and environmental human rights defenders, and mainstreaming human rights in inter-agency and international environmental processes and negotiations. With the support of the Environment Team at OHCHR HQ in Geneva, more than 30 OHCHR field presences are currently working on issues related to the right to a healthy environment and the protection of environmental human rights defenders. Those that have dedicated staff have been able to inter alia build and strengthen civil society networks, conduct capacity building workshops for defenders, children and youth, Indigenous Peoples, private sector, and Government officials, NHRIs and work closely with partners to advance the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
Intern Specific text
Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken, may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer.
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.