Human Rights Assistant

Details

Mission and objectives

Update

Context

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 2020 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 Capacity Building Unit with close interaction with other units, including Monitoring and Reporting. At a time when the subregion is challenged by crises on multiple fronts, these units play a strategic role in ensuring that information is rapidly verified and reported to inform appropriate action by HQ or other relevant UN bodies, while providing support to strengthen national human rights capacities. Cameroon has been confronted with a protracted armed struggle between separatists in the North-West and South-West (Anglophone) regions and Government forces, which since October 2016 has primarily exposed the civilian population to atrocities. This conflict, which was triggered by social resentment of injustice and marginalization accumulated

Task description

Under the overall supervision of the Representative of OHCHR Regional Office and the day-to-day direct supervision of the Units Coordinator and support from the respective Units, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: Support 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. Contribute in the 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. Assist in the conduct of field verification missions and liaise with local civil society partners to strengthen human rights monitoring. Support the strengthening of the human rights cases database by feeding in information from field verification and monitoring missions, including information collected through remote monitoring. Support the drafting of 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 the management of the UNCT Human Rights Working Group (drafting meeting agendas and minutes, convening meetings, etc.) and liaise with the Resident Coordinator’s Office to ensure outcomes’ dissemination to UNCT and recording in UNCT archives. Support capacity building activities including through engaging in the organization and fac