Internship with UPR Branch
Organizational Context
This internship is within the Universal Periodic Review Branch (UPRB) of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva. The UPRB serves as the Secretariat for the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism, a key human rights process involving the review of all UN Member States' human rights records every four and a half years.
Job Purpose
The intern will support the OHCHR's mission by assisting the Universal Periodic Review Branch (UPRB) in servicing country reviews. This involves contributing to the drafting of UPR reports, managing secretariat tasks during sessions, and conducting research. The role provides an opportunity to gain practical experience in international human rights mechanisms and support the UPR process, which ensures equal treatment for all countries in human rights assessments and encourages states to improve their human rights situations.
Responsibilities
Assist in servicing country reviews before, during, and after UPR Working Group sessions. This includes drafting sections of UPR reports under supervision. Provide secretariat management support, such as compiling delegation lists, drafting/translating correspondence, and managing communication tools for hybrid sessions. Conduct ad hoc summaries, data research, and statistical analysis. Support media-related tasks and take notes during UPR-related side events. Prepare UPR pre-session documents, including research and analysis of human rights information. Index UPR recommendations, conduct thematic research, and prepare training materials, notes, and electronic content like infographics and presentations.
Work Experience
No professional work experience is required for this internship. However, relevant academic knowledge and/or experience in human rights, international human rights mechanisms, and the UPR process would be highly regarded.
Skills
Proficiency in standard software applications (MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams). Skills in data research, data analysis, and statistics are desirable. Graphic design skills are an asset. Fluency in English is required; knowledge of French is an asset. Knowledge of other UN official languages is advantageous.