Associate Human Rights Officer (Gender and Climate Change)

Mission and objectivesThe Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is the leading UN entity on human rights. UN Human Rights represents a commitment to the promotion and protection of the full range of human rights and freedoms set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. UN Human Rights has a unique role in promoting and protecting all human rights; including through universal ratification and implementation of the major Human Rights treaties and respect for the rule of law; helping empower people on human rights issues; assist governments in respecting, protecting, and fulfilling human rights through technical cooperation and capacity building initiatives; and inject a human rights perspective into all UN programmes.

ContextThe Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) established a regional presence for the Pacific in Suva, Fiji, in August 2005. It covers 16 countries: Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. This United Nations Volunteers (UNV) assignment is part of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) ’s Pacific Regional Office, and will support projects in the Micronesian region (Nauru, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau). The UNV will work under the overall supervision of the Regional Representative and the delegated supervision of the Human Rights Officer stationed in Pohnpei. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) seeks to promote the meaningful participation of women, children, persons with disabilities, and local communities in the development and implementation of climate change and disaster risk reduction frameworks. Specifically, networks of Human Rights Defenders, along with other civic space actors, remain weak. There is overall limited capacity to apply intersectionality and other human rights-based approaches to widen and deepen the space for engagement of/with other groups, such as LGBTQI+, indigenous and local communities, etc. vis-à-vis issues like environmental degradation and climate change. Women Human Rights Defenders' intersectional efforts to work on land and environmental issues, and to collaborate with LGBTQI+ human rights defenders, need increased coordination within civil society, as well as support from government, the UN, and the international community. Like many member states, Pacific Island Countries are at risk of failing in their duty to protect against human rights abuses by businesses and other economic actors. The 2023-2027 UNSDCF needs to be implemented in a manner that identifies, targets, and concretely redounds to the benefit of groups experiencing greater deprivation and vulnerability due to changing migration, cultural, and economic patterns brought about by the triple planetary crisis. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is uniquely positioned to do this within the UN Pacific Country Team.

Task DescriptionUnder the overall supervision of the Pacific UN Human Rights (OHCHR) Regional Representative and direct, delegated supervision of the Human Rights Officer based in Pohnpei, the UN Volunteer will be expected to support capacity building, technical assistance, research, and human rights monitoring activities in the Pacific and undertake the following tasks: 1). Support the creation and/or strengthening of networks for human rights defenders, especially HRDs working to address impacts of environmental degradation and climate change in the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, and Palau to amplify their voices and participation in decision-making processes. Links this capacity building with the broader regional engagement by the Pacific Regional Office. 2). Conduct substantive research and analysis on challenges related to the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, including the impact of climate change in Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, and Palau. Links research and analysis to the broader regional engagement by the Pacific Regional Office. 3) Supports the planning and organisation of events and other activities related to women’s and girls’ rights and gender equality in the region in the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, and Palau. Links developments to the broader regional engagement by the Pacific Regional Office. 3) Support the Regional Representative, Deputy Regional Representative, and Human Rights Officer in the drafting of a variety of internal and external reports, communications, briefings, and statements, including to policy-making bodies; 4) Engage in educational and promotional activities in the countries to raise awareness on the linkages between human rights, gender equality and the environment; 5) Develop and implement a communication strategy to increase external engagement on these issues, and among others, will include the sharing of information of related activities on social media, in close collaboration and coordination with the Pacific Regional Office in Suva; and 6) Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies and valuesAccountability Adaptability and flexibility Creativity Planning and organizing Professionalism Self-management

Living conditions and remarksIn the 2024 classification exercise of duty stations according to conditions of life and work, Pohnpei has received a C hardship classification. The selected candidate will be responsible for arranging her/his housing and other living essentials.