Since 1995, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has been partnering with the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme to uphold the human rights standards that are guaranteed under international law. Between 2012-2022, almost 500 UN Volunteers served with OHCHR, supporting its mission to prevent human rights violations, secure respect for all human rights and promote international cooperation in the protection of human rights.
How does the recruitment of UN Volunteers add value to OHCHR?
As an efficient, speedy and diverse talent solution for UN partners, UN Volunteers serve with UN entities to bring people to the forefront of development, peace and humanitarian issues. UNV manages a pool of over 350,000 talented and qualified UN Volunteers who can be deployed to bolster the delivery of OHCHR’s programmes and support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
OHCHR Mexico has three UN Volunteers assigned. Their high level of education and experience and above all their great commitment to human rights has made them a fundamental pillar in the office. --Jesus Peña, Deputy Representative of OHCHR, Mexico
In 2018, UNV and the UN Secretariat signed a new Memorandum of Understanding – which also applies to OHCHR – to further strengthen the partnership between the entities.
UN Volunteers work within communities, making them well-placed to monitor and document human rights violations, support research analyses, and improve inclusion, participation and engagement with affected populations, supporting OHCHR’s efforts to advance the protection of human rights.
Today, UNV and OHCHR further join forces to increase the advocacy of rights for persons with disabilities by integrating a stronger inclusion of persons with disabilities as UN Volunteers both within OHCHR and throughout the UN system.
Read more about UN Volunteers serving with OHCHR.
UN Volunteers are experienced personnel available to support OHCHR’s mandate. In 2022, over 83 per cent of UN Volunteers came from the global South, offering an understanding of complex local development challenges and societal norms. UN Volunteers can strengthen the impact, sustainability and inclusivity of development initiatives, fostering participation and generating local ownership.
How can your office recruit UN Volunteers?
UNV offers different categories of UN Volunteers to suit the needs of UN partners, such as international and national specialists, youth or online volunteers. UN Volunteers can serve from two weeks to up to four years, depending on the category of volunteer. UNV manages all contractual, legal and management aspects to help minimize the administrative impacts for the host organization.
To partner with UNV and recruit UN Volunteers to support OHCHR’s programmes and operations, contact the UNV Field Representation or Regional Office for guidance and support.
For further information, refer to UNV’s website at: https://toolkit.unv.org.
