The Indigenous Peoples and Minorities Section (IPMS) of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has issued a call for application from a qualified person belonging to a national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minority to fill a Senior Fellow position for a duration of approximately three months (2 October – 16 December 2011).
In the context of the reform of OHCHR Indigenous and Minorities Fellowship Programmes, the idea of offering to indigenous and minority representatives a more practical on-the-job training emerged. This Senior Minorities Fellowship aims at giving a better understanding and appreciation of the international human rights system and mechanisms, especially those dealing with minority issues. Through this experience the Senior Fellow will gain practical knowledge and working level experience by directly contributing to the programmes and activities of the IPMS. Such exposure will also allow him/her to develop an extensive contact network with OHCHR staff in general, as well as other UN departments or agencies and human rights NGOs in Geneva, thereby enhancing collaborative efforts.
The senior fellow is expected to return to his/her home country with an enhanced profile and will thus be better equipped to contribute towards the promotion and protection of the rights of minorities at the national, regional or international level.
The Senior Minorities Fellow will be working in the Indigenous Peoples and Minorities Section of OHCHR under the guidance and supervision of the Chief of Section and the Coordinator of the Minorities Fellowship Programme and will be requested to:
– Participate in the section’s activities through substantive research, analysis and reports on developments concerning issues related to minorities.
– Participate in, and contribute to, the training activities, workshops or international meetings organized by OHCHR, such as the Minorities Fellowship Programme and the Forum on Minority Issues.
– Perform other tasks that contribute to his/her capacity to advance, promote and protect the rights of minorities.
The fellow may also be tasked on a specific project that is mutually agreed for the duration of the fellowship.
Eligibility:
The candidate must belong to a national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minority. He/she should have:
A university degree preferably in law, political sciences, international relations or any other disciplines related to human rights;
Minimum of four years of working experience in the field of minority issues;
He/she should be fluent in English. Other language skills including Spanish, French or Arabic are highly desirable.
Entitlements:
The candidate selected is entitled to a monthly stipend to cover basic living expenses in Geneva, as well as return economy class ticket and basic health insurance.
Deadline: 31 May 2011
For further details and information, please visit the link.
