Mission and objectivesThe Regional Office works on thematic issues that require attention at the national and regional levels. Among others, the freedoms of opinion and expression, association and peaceful assembly require heightened attention, despite the fact that they are essential to democratic participation yet are gravely endangered. The Regional Office continues to advocate for the rights of vulnerable groups, minorities and non-citizens, whose legal status and rights are rarely discussed let alone protected. In addressing these issues, the Regional Office provides technical advice to Governments in the field of human rights with regard to, inter alia, the ratification of human rights treaties, and encourages States to establish national human rights institutions (NHRIs) and to reinforce existing institutions, especially with respect to their independence and ability to take action when violations occur. The Regional Office also designs training modules on human rights targeting civil society organizations, Governments and NHRIs on a variety of issues, including: developing laws that are in-line with international human rights standards, preparation for and follow up on the UPR process and its recommendations, follow up on the concluding observations and comments of treaty bodies and special procedures mandate holders. The Regional Office actively cooperates with the UN human rights mechanisms, including treaty bodies and special procedures mandate holders. The Regional Office prioritizes gender equality and women's rights in its programs. All countries in the region are party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).In addition, the Regional Office compiles and analyses information on the human rights situation, contributes to global or thematic reports of the High Commissioner and organizes awareness raising sessions and advocacy meetings to promote the protection of human rights.
ContextOrganization Mission and objectives The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is the leading United Nations entity in the field of human rights, with a unique mandate to promote and protect all human rights for all people. OHCHR's mandate encompasses promoting and protecting human rights as outlined in international human rights instruments. This includes gathering information, conducting investigations, and issuing reports on human rights violations and abuses. Context Due to the recent conflict in Lebanon, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has faced a significant need to track incidents, casualties, and monitor the human rights situation in the country. The Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa, which has led this monitoring work, has encountered challenges in gathering available open-source data and systematizing it. The office is calling for online United Nations Volunteers (UNVs) to help address these gaps. OHCHR gathers data from open-source platforms, including news organizations, public bodies, and social media, to track incidents and collect essential information. This effort aims to clarify the evolving situation and contribute to OHCHRโs broader reporting and advocacy objectives. The role involves the initial analysis of information, drafting short reports and triaging with the guidance of experienced staff. Through this assignment, online volunteers will not only enhance their knowledge of the human rights situation in Lebanon but also gain exposure to the practical application of qualitative and quantitative analysis methods in a conflict-affected environment. This unique learning opportunity will allow volunteers to improve their skills in data analysis, open-source research, and incident tracking. The expected start date is as soon as possible. Task type Casualty & incident tracking, triaging of data and legal research support
Task DescriptionThe Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa (ROMENA) is seeking five online volunteers to assist with open-source information collection and analysis for casualty tracking related to the armed conflict in Lebanon. Under the guidance of the Human Rights Officers, volunteers will identify and review open-source information from various online platforms indicating individual fatalities, assess the reliability and credibility of these sources, and confirm through assessment whether three independent sources indicate that the individual was killed as a direct result of the armed conflict. They will log their findings on a centralized database called OHCHR BASES. Additionally, volunteers may be asked to conduct ad-hoc cross-checking exercises to ensure that the information is accurately and consistently logged in the OHCHR BASES database according to the officeโs methodological standards. This role requires individuals to be organized, analytical, and capable of systematizing data according to instructions.
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