General
Description of assignment title
UNV Human Rights Specialist (Climate and Environmental Action)
Assignment country
Fiji
Expected start date
01/10/2024
Sustainable Development Goal
16. Peace, justice and strong institutions
Volunteer category
International UN Volunteer Specialist
Host entity
OHCHR
Type
Onsite
Duration
12 months
Number of assignments
1
Duty stations
Suva
Details
Mission and objectives
The mission of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is to work for the protection of all human rights for all people; to help empower people to realize their rights; and to assist those responsible for upholding such rights in ensuring that they are implemented. In carrying out its mission OHCHR will: • Give priority to addressing the most pressing human rights violations, both acute and chronic, particularly those that put life in imminent peril; • Focus attention on those who are at risk and vulnerable on multiple fronts; • Pay equal attention to the realization of civil, cultural, economic, political, and social rights, including the right to development; and • Measure the impact of its work through the substantive benefit that is accrued, through it, to individuals around the world. Operationally, OHCHR works with governments, legislatures, courts, national institutions, civil society, regional and international organizations, and the United Nations system to develop and strengthen capacity, particularly at the national level, for the protection of human rights in accordance with international norms. Institutionally, OHCHR is committed to strengthening the United Nations human rights programme and to providing it with the highest quality support. OHCHR is committed to working closely with its United Nations partners to ensure that human rights form the bedrock of the work of the United Nations. OHCHR in the Pacific leads the Human Rights Outcome Group for the UN Country Team (UNCT). It has a Disability Inclusion Working that oversees the implementation of the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy of which the Fiji Multi-Country Office is a Pilot UNCT.
Context
UN Human Rights, Pacific Regional Office works to ensure the meaningful participation of women, children, persons with disabilities and local communities in the development and implementation of climate change and disaster risk reduction frameworks. Specifically, protection networks for Human Rights Defenders, along with other civic space actors, remain weak or inexistent in most Pacific Island Countries. There is a need to strengthen overall capacity to apply intersectionality and other human rights-based approaches to widen and deepen the space for engagement of/with indigenous peoples and local communities vis-à-vis policies aimed at mitigating and remediating environmental degradation, including impacts stemming from climate change. Women Human Rights Defenders intersectional efforts to work on land and environmental issues, and to collaborate with LGBTQI+ human rights defenders, in particular, need increased coordination within civil society, as well as support from government, the UN and the international community. The expansion of economic activities in the mining (including critical minerals for a green transition), tourism and other sectors, Pacific Island Countries are at risk of failing in their duty to protect against human rights abuses by businesses and other economic actors. The 2024-2028 UNSDCF should be implemented in a manner that identifies, targets, and concretely redounds to the benefit of groups experiencing greater deprivation and vulnerability due to changing migration, cultural and economic patterns brought about by the triple planetary crisis. Their active, free and meaningful participation should be ensured in projects and programmes of the UN in the Pacific. OHCHR is uniquely positioned to do this within the UN Pacific Country Team given its broad mandate and its close cooperation with human rights mechanisms, including treaty bodies, special procedures mandate holders and the Human Rights Council.
Task description
Under the direct supervision of the Regional Representative, the UN Volunteer Specialist will undertake the following tasks: 1). Support the creation and/or strengthening of protection networks for land and environmental human rights defenders working to address impacts of climate change in the Pacific with a view to providing human rights capacity building for them and a broad range of civic space actors, as well as protection services to defenders who are under threat. 2). Support the identification of population groups experiencing greater deprivation and vulnerability to climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss, including in terms of analysing capacity gaps and protection needs, and collecting/processing disaggregated data and indicators, in order to recommend appropriate interventions. 3). Engage in educational and promotional activities in the country to raise awareness on human rights, climate, and environmental action. 4). Develop and implement a communication strategy to increase external engagement on these issues, and among others, will include the sharing of information of related activities on social media.
Eligibility criteria
Age
18 – 80
Additional eligibility criteria
This assignment is funded by the Government of Japan, therefore only Japanese nationals are eligible to apply.
Nationality
Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.
Donor priorities
–
Requirements
Required experience
3 years of experience in human rights law, international relations, peace and conflict studies or a related area Knowledge of international human rights instruments and mechanisms. Good communication and analytical skills. Experience in capacity building for the promotion and protection of human rights is desirable. Experience in data collection, statistical analysis, data visualization and dissemination through various platforms is desirable.
Area(s) of expertise
Development programmes, Information technology, Legal affairs
Driving license
–
Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Required
Required education level
Bachelor degree or equivalent in law, political science, international relations, community development, sociology, peace and conflict studies or related field.
Competencies and values
☒ Accountability ☒ Adaptability and Flexibility ☒ Client Orientation ☒ Communication ☒ Ethics and Values ☒ Integrity ☒ Knowledge Sharing☒ Respect for Diversity ☒ Self-Management ☒ Working in Teams
Other information
Living conditions and remarks
In the 2022 classification exercise of duty stations according to conditions of life and work, Fiji has received a B hardship classification. The selected candidate will be responsible for arranging her/his own housing and other living essentials.
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy
