The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights calls application for Human Rights Internship in Asunción, Paraguay. This internship is an unpaid and full-time engagement that provides a framework through which students from diverse academic backgrounds gain exposure to the work of the United Nations by way of their service within Secretariat entities. Applicants should have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations with a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter and have the demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs – which includes a willingness to understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

Position Summary 

The intern shall support OHCHR in fulfilling its mission: 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. Daily responsibilities of the Human Rights intern will depend on the individual’s background and duties may include but are not limited to monitoring human rights, politics, socio-economic affairs and other developments in Paraguay, and in particular, the intern may

• Assist in drafting reports, background notes, talking points, summaries, and other documents.
• Assist in providing information to United Nations human rights mechanisms such as treaty bodies and special procedures.
• Prepare presentations and materials on human rights law and issues.
• Carry-out research on international and national law, case law and make summaries thereof.
• Attend and summarize notes for workshops and meetings.
• Assist in organizing and managing conferences, training events, and other events.
• Assist in reviewing, preparing, and distributing news and notes on human rights issues.
• Assist in preparing, drafting and reviewing public information materials
• Assist in implementing public information and media activities, and translation of documents.
• Performs other related duties requested.

Requirements 

• To qualify for the United Nations Secretariat internship program applicants must, at the time of their submission, be enrolled in the final academic year of a first-level university degree program (i.e. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent degree); be enrolled in a graduate school program (i.e. Master’s degree or equivalent degree, or higher) or have completed an aforementioned academic degree, preferably in the area of law, political science, international relations, social sciences or a related field, AND, if selected, must commence the internship on the date indicated on the acceptance letter.
• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship, fluency in
• English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of Portuguese would be an advantage.

Assessment

Incomplete applications/personal history profiles (PHPs) will not be reviewed. OHCHR Regional Office for South America (Paraguay) hiring managers will directly contact short-listed applicants for an interview. For this reason, in the application cover letter, it is important that you:

• Specify your general interest in OHCHR, including in the area of international human rights and/or the work of the Office.
• Indicate recently obtained academic degree or the scheduled graduation for university study currently underway.
• Specify your period of availability and earliest commencement date.
• Indicate information technology (IT) skills and programs in which you are proficient.