Advocating for the promotion and protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, is at the core of UNICEF’s mandate. In over 190 countries, UNICEF supports Governments and civil society in making the Convention on the Rights of the Child a reality for all children. The Human Rights Unit in the Programme Group Leadership Team supports the Organisation in taking a human rights and child rights-based approach to its work at all levels, from policies to programmes. In particular, the Human Rights Unit focuses on promoting greater accountability for child rights, including through engagement with human rights mechanisms.
The aim of the internship is to support UNICEF’s engagement with human rights mechanisms in Geneva, including the Human Rights Council and the Universal Periodic review.
The intern will work under the direct supervision of the Geneva-based Human Rights Specialist, and will undertake the following tasks:
Cover meetings at the Human Rights Council and follow side events and informal consultations on resolutions and prepare internal notes.
Support the preparation of UNICEF’s input into the 50th session of the Universal Periodic Review
Attend sessions of other treaty bodies and take notes as required.
Attend other meetings on relevant issues and take notes as required.
Assist in other activities as required.
Learning benefits for the intern:
The intern will have direct exposure to international human rights mechanisms and learn about and contribute to UNICEF’s engagement with these mechanisms.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
the following eligibility requirements.
Education field required:
Strong interest in Human Rights, especially Child Rights
Familiarity with international human rights mechanisms
Fluency and excellent writing skills in English (knowledge of another UN language, especially French and/or Spanish an asset)
Research experience and skills
Analytical and conceptual thinking
Ability to work independently and within a set time frame
