General
Description of assignment title
Associate Human Rights Officer (Climate and Environmental Action)
Assignment country
Samoa
Expected start date
20/10/2025
Sustainable Development Goal
5. Gender equality
Volunteer category
International UN Youth Volunteer
Host entity
OHCHR
Type
Onsite
Duration
12 months
Number of assignments
1
Duty stations
Apia
Details
Mission and objectives
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is the leading UN entity on human rights. UN Human Rights represents the world’s commitment to the promotion and protection of the full range of human rights and freedoms set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. UN Human Rights has a unique role in promoting and protecting all human rights; helps empower people on human rights issues; assists governments in respecting, protecting, and fulfilling human rights through technical cooperation and capacity building initiatives; and injects a human rights perspective into all UN programmes.
Context
The Human Rights Adviser in Samoa seeks 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, networks of Human Rights Defenders, along with other civic space actors, remain weak. There is overall limited capacity to apply intersectionality and other human rights-based approaches to widen and deepen the space for engagement of/with other groups, such as LGBTQI+, indigenous and local communities, etc. vis-Ă -vis issues like environmental degradation and 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 the government, the UN, and the international community. Like many member states, Pacific Island Countries are at risk of failing in its duty to protect against human rights abuses by businesses and other economic actors. The 2023-2027 UNSDCF needs to 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. OHCHR is uniquely positioned to do this within the UN Pacific Country Team.
Task description
Under the overall supervision of the Pacific UN Human Rights (OHCHR) Regional Representative and direct, delegated supervision of the Human Rights Adviser, RCO Samoa, based in Apia, the UN Volunteer will be expected to support capacity building, technical assistance, research, and human rights monitoring activities in the Pacific and undertake the following tasks: 1). Support the creation and/or strengthening of networks for land and environmental human rights defenders working to address impacts of climate change in Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau to amplify their voices and participation in decision-making processes. Link this capacity building to wider engagement by the Regional Office. 2). Conduct substantive research and analysis on challenges related to the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, including the impact of climate change in Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau. Link this research and analysis to wider engagement by the Regional Office. 3) Support the Regional Representative, Deputy Regional Representative, and Human Rights Adviser in the drafting of a variety of internal and external reports, communications, briefings, and statements, including to policy-making bodies; 4) Engage in educational and promotional activities in the country to raise awareness on the linkages between human rights and the environment; 5) Develop and implement a communication strategy to increase external engagement on these issues, and among others, will include the sharing of information on related activities on social media, in close collaboration and coordination with the Pacific Regional Office in Suva; and 6) Performs other related duties as required.
Eligibility criteria
Age
18 – 80
Required experience
1 month
Donor priorities
This assignment is funded by the Government of the Republic of Ireland and therefore specific criteria apply: – Only the following are eligible to apply: Irish citizens or a European Economic Area nationals with an unrestricted right to reside in Ireland or have a declaration of refugee status from the Minister for Justice and Law Reform.
Nationality
Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.
Additional eligibility criteria
–
Assignment requirements
Relevant experience
1 month
Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Desirable
Required education level
Bachelor’s degree in Human rights, law, political science, climate change/environment, international relations, community development, sociology, peace and conflict studies or related field.
Competencies and values
Accountability Adaptability and Flexibility Client Orientation Commitment and Motivation Communication Creativity Ethics and Values Knowledge Sharing Respect for Diversity Self-Management Working in Teams
Skills and experience
Minimum 1 year of experience in human rights law, climate change and environment, 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 and dissemination through various platforms is desirable.
Area(s) of expertise
Energy and environment , Community development, Development programmes
Driving license
–
Other information
Living conditions and remarks
In the 2022 classification exercise of duty stations according to conditions of life and work, Samoa has received a B hardship classification. The selected candidate will be responsible for arranging her/his 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
Scam warning
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