Junior Human Rights and Democracy Officer
Onsite : Cameroon
12 months :
1 assignment(s)

Fully funded

Advertisement end date:22/12/2023

General
Description of assignment title
Junior Human Rights and Democracy Officer

Assignment country
Cameroon

Expected start date
01/04/2024

Sustainable Development Goal
16. Peace, justice and strong institutions

Volunteer category
International UN Youth Volunteer

Host entity
OHCHR

Type
Onsite

Duration
12 months
(with possibility of extension)

Number of assignments
1

Duty stations
Yaounde

Details
Mission and objectives

Created by General Assembly resolution 53/78 of 5 December 1998 and 54/55 of 1 December 1999, the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa is the Regional Office for Central Africa (CARO) of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The Centre covers 10 countries of the Economic Community of Central Africa States (ECCAS) zone including Rwanda.

The Centre works in collaboration with Governments, National Human Rights Institutions, Election Management bodies, United Nations Country Teams, Civil Society Organisations, and the media throughout the sub region to promote the state of human rights and democratic practice. CARO focuses on building the human rights promotion and protection capacities of all national actors to effectively to uphold the international standards and democratic practices at national level.

The Centre is headed by a Director who doubles as Regional Representative of the High Commissioner for Central Africa. Following the 2022 organigramme, the office operates with seven units namely Capacity Building, Human Rights Mechanisms, Non-discrimination, Monitoring and Reporting, Emergency Response, Communication and Advocacy and Administration and Finance. The UN Volunteer will work primarily with the Administration and Finance Unit with close interaction with other our Human Rights Advisor in Rwanda.

Context

The Centre is headed by a director who doubles as Regional Representative of the High Commissioner for Central Africa.
Following the 2020 organigram, the office operates with eight Units namely Capacity Building, Democracy, Human Rights Mechanisms, Equality and Non-discrimination, Monitoring and Reporting, Emergency Response, Communication and Advocacy and Administration and Finance. The UN Volunteer will work primarily with the Equality and Non-discrimination Unit with close interactions with other Units, including Democracy, Emergency Response, Monitoring and Reporting.
Since a decade, the Central Africa sub region has witnessed a lot of social and political instability, violence and insecurity particularly linked to issues of poor governance, corruption and retrograding economic environment, especially with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite legal and institutional improvements in some countries, the human rights situation in the Central Africa sub region has regressed especially in the context of elections. The exercise of freedom of opinion and expression, particularly for trade unions and human rights organizations, and freedom of association and peaceful assembly were hindered in the context of the electoral processes; for example, Internet services were interrupted, and social media were blocked by the authorities during the electoral periods. In some cases, freedom of movement was restrained by measures taken by the authorities to deal with the post-election violence. The Centre has contributed to the consolidation of democratic processes to ensure accountability in the subregion; by supporting groups that face discrimination in the political sphere such as persons with disabilities, indigenous persons, and women to participate in electoral processes; promoting respect for freedom of opinion and expression; and enhancing the legal protection of human rights. Justice and rule of law systems remain weak in all focus countries. The executive’s influence over the judiciary and legislative bodies undermines objectivity and fairness in the delivery of justice and drafting and adoption of legislation, thus increasing impunity. Poverty has been exacerbated by these conflicts, coupled with poor governance, corruption, and mismanagement of public funds in Cameroon, Congo, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. The non-realization of economic, social and cultural rights has continued to generate social tensions and protests by rights holders against degrading standards of living. The lack of independence and effectiveness of national human rights institutions in the subregion has impeded promotion and protection efforts.

Task description
Under the direct supervision of the Representative of OHCHR Regional Office and the day-to-day direct supervision of the Regional Democracy and Human Rights Advisor, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
- Assist in the development and implementation of training programs in the field of human rights, international humanitarian law, democracy, and the rule of law, with attention to gender perspectives for countries' security bodies, judiciary, national institutions, civil society organisations.
- Participates in research and collection of information pertaining to the human rights situation within the sub region, including their gender dimensions from a variety of sources (e.g. communications, publications, the press…) to keep abreast of issues/events and provide up to-date information
- Assist in the analysis of information, to include the impact on the countries and thematic mandates on the human rights situation in assigned area
- Contributes to monitor civic space participation in countries covered by OHCHR Regional Office
- Contributes to the drafting of substantive documents, reports, briefings, background notes and correspondence relating to human rights matters for various targets including Governments, donors and partner organizations
- Participate in meetings of interagency groups on human rights and consultations; prepare summaries of outcome and propose follow-up actions.
- Support capacity building activities

Eligibility criteria
Age
18 - 26

Additional eligibility criteria
This assignment is funded by the Government of Korea and therefore specific criteria apply:

- Candidates must be Korean nationals.
- Candidates must be between 22 and 29 years old at the time of application. NOTE: If you are older than 26 when applying, the system will display a notification that the ’application does not meet the eligibility criteria’. Please disregard this notification and submit your application.
- Candidates who have already served as UN Youth Volunteer funded by the Government of Korea are not eligible to apply (former UN University Volunteers are eligible).
- Candidates may apply to a maximum of three assignments and indicate the order of preference in the ‘Additional remarks’ field when filling in the application form.
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. The selection will be done by the UN Host Entity at the level of the country of assignment.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 22 December 2023

+++ UN Volunteer entitlement calculator: https://app.unv.org/calculator +++

Nationality
Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Donor priorities
.

Requirements
Required experience
1 years of experience in demonstrated interest in political affairs, diplomacy, electoral management, civic space monitoring
Experience in an international organization or a non-governmental organization would be an asset.
Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded.

Area(s) of expertise
Development programmes, Elections and governance, Legal affairs

Driving license
-

Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Required
French, Level: Working knowledge, Required

Required education level
Bachelor degree or equivalent in Law, political science, social science or related field is required


Competencies and values

☒ Adaptability and Flexibility
☒ Commitment and Motivation
☒ Commitment to Continuous Learning
☒ Communication
☒ Ethics and Values
☒ Integrity
☒ Respect for Diversity
☒ Working in Teams

Other information
Living conditions and remarks
This position is located within the OHCHR Office in the capital of Cameroon, Yaoundé. A number of services (banks, schools international, etc.), restaurants and supermarkets can be found nearby. The transportation in Yaoundé can be done by taxi, although it is recommended to call private taxis rather than street taxis for safety reasons.

The security situation in the city of Yaoundé is partially satisfactory, although it should be noted that petty crime is the main threat in the city of Yaoundé. As the political capital and seat of the institutions of the Republic of Cameroon, Yaoundé has a large Police and Gendarmerie presence. The main crimes concern burglaries in houses, robberies perpetrated by small groups of bandits. These criminal acts are mostly perpetrated overnight. In the country, travel to the Far North, North and Adamaoua regions as well as to the South and North-West, require a UNDSS authorization and are limited to official business travel.

Cameroon is a unique country and with mixed of Development-Humanitarian unique operation. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live, work and travel in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.

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

All applications must be submitted ONLINE at : https://app.unv.org/opportunities/1741285825408256