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 to enable relevant legal analysis. 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 DescriptionWe are looking for 5 Online Volunteers in total. Two will be primarily dedicated to supporting the office with research on incidents in close collaboration with the officeโs legal reporting officers. The online volunteers is asked to conduct open source research and deliver their findings in an incident report format on the OHCHR Bases platform. This assignment provides Online Volunteers with an opportunity to develop and hone their skills in human rights monitoring and analysis. We are looking for three online volunteers to perform casualty tracking tasks. This will involve reviewing open-source information from various online platforms related to the situation in Lebanon. With guidance from one of the officeโs Human Rights Officers, the UNVs will verify and ensure the accuracy of information by cross-referencing data from various sources to confirm the reliability of incidents and reports. They will tag and categorize casualties identified from online sources to ensure effective data organization and analysis. Additionally, they will update and maintain a database with the verified information, ensuring consistency and accuracy. The volunteers will also create data for timelines of critical events and incidents, ensuring a chronological understanding of the evolving situation. Regular meetings will be attended for coordination and progress updates.
Competencies and values
Living conditions and remarks