Human Right Associate

Within the framework of its mandate, the Office has been working to strengthen communities and local authorities across different regions of the country, with a particular focus on those areas most affected by the internal armed conflict. Strengthening local communities so they are better prepared and able to actively participate in decision-making processes that affect them, as well as in the implementation of local peacebuilding initiatives, especially in conflict-affected areas, remains a key priority for the Office. This approach also constitutes a strategic measure to build trust, promote stabilization, and enhance the sustainability of peace efforts at the local level.

In this context, the assignment places particular emphasis on advisory and advocacy work aimed at supporting the realization of the collective rights of Indigenous Peoples, Black and Afro-descendant communities, and peasant communities in prioritized territorial contexts. This includes support for the strengthening of self-governance structures, community-based justice systems, access to land and territory, and the effective exercise of the right to free, prior and informed consultation.

The overall objective of this UN Volunteer assignment is to contribute to the development and implementation of a capacity-strengthening programme for local organizations, enabling them to effectively advocate for the fulfillment of human rights before the relevant State institutions responsible for the respect, protection, and guarantee of those rights. In addition, the assignment will support the integration and application of an ethnic and intercultural approach into the Office’s territorial work, ensuring that interventions are responsive to the specific rights, identities, and needs of ethnically diverse communities.

The assignment will also provide structured exposure to OHCHR’s human rights monitoring methodology, territorial engagement, analytical and reporting processes, and community-based protection work, under close supervision and mentoring.

Under the direct supervision of the Field Office Coordinator in Cali the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Support human rights monitoring, documentation and basic analysis in prioritized terri-tories, under close guidance from Human Rights Officers.

• Support fieldwork activities by assisting in the collection and organization of basic in-formation related to the human rights situation in prioritized communities, under close supervision.

• Assist in the reception and initial documentation of complaints, as well as in the support of interviews with victims and witnesses of human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law.

• Support basic research tasks on human rights issues affecting specific groups, includ-ing Indigenous Peoples and other ethnic communities, as requested by Human Rights Officers.

• Assist with the compilation of information and administrative inputs for periodic reports on human rights and international humanitarian law trends in the assigned area.

• Support the registration and organization of cases of human rights violations in the Office’s database, following established guidelines and under supervision.

• Provide logistical and administrative support for external activities such as workshops, training, meetings, and field visits organized by the Office.

• Assist in reviewing and organizing information from media sources and internal docu-mentation, contributing to basic summaries by geographic area or thematic focus.

• Support the dissemination of information related to the mandate of the Office to local stakeholders, as guided by supervisors.

• Respond to routine information requests and perform other basic support tasks as re-quired.

• Support the integration of ethnic, gender and intercultural approaches across monitor-ing, analysis, capacity-strengthening and engagement with communities and authori-ties.

During the first month of the assignment, the UN Volunteer will work closely with his/her direct supervisor to finalize an agreed-upon work plan. The work plan should outline key objectives and activities and include regular check-ins with the supervisor to review progress and receive performance feedback.