Gender Equality and Human Rights for Young Key Populations

Serving Communities and Countries to End Inequalities and AIDS
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This United Nations (UN) Volunteer will operate within the framework of advancing gender equality, human rights, and fostering an inclusive environment for young key populations. The UN Volunteer will play a critical role in promoting the integration of human rights-based approaches including in the coordination efforts for the launch of the Education Plus Initiative, ensuring alignment with national HIV response priorities, respect for diversity, principles of leaving no-one behind as well as human rights interventions aimed at reaching the furthest behind first.

Under the framework of key actions from the Global AIDS Strategy 2021-2026, the UNAIDS-Global Fund-PEPFAR Focal Countries Collaboration Initiative, other relevant UNAIDS frameworks, and supporting the coordination for the Education Plus Initiative launch, the UN Volunteer will play a critical role in advancing gender equality and human rights for young key populations. The focus will be on supporting the development and implementation of evidence-based strategies and interventions to empower young key populations, ensuring a strong linkage with human rights education and related principles.
The Education Plus Initiative, an integral component of the proposed (volunteer) assignment, seeks to break down barriers in the enjoyment of human rights by using education as a vehicle for empowerment particularly for adolescent girls and young women. It will revolutionize access to comprehensive education (including on human rights) and empowerment for young key populations (YKPs) in Ghana. Going beyond conventional education frameworks, this initiative aims to create a tailored, youth-friendly inclusive learning environment that not only addresses academic needs but also encompasses crucial life skills, health education, and human rights awareness. This role requires a dedicated focus on upholding human rights principles, ensuring that the Education Plus Initiative not only addresses immediate needs but also contributes to a more just and equitable society. By leveraging innovative approaches and digital technologies, the Education Plus Initiative aspires to break down human rights barriers hindering YKPs’ access to education and healthcare services.

Under the direct supervision of UNAIDS Country Director and technical supervision of the Officer on Equality and Rights for all, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

1. Strengthening the integration of human rights-based approaches in implementing gender diverse initiatives including the launch of Education Plus Initiative targeting mainly adolescent girls and young women:

• Promoting the integration of human rights-based approaches in the coordination efforts for the launch of the Education Plus Initiative, ensuring alignment with national HIV response priorities, respect for diversity, principles of leaving no-one behind and reaching the furthest behind first and the unique, intersectional needs of young key populations as well as the roadmap for follow-up actions of the initiative.

• Work closely with the Joint United Nations Team on AIDS (JUTA) to mobilize resources, engage stakeholders, and develop a comprehensive, inclusive and strategy for the successful launch of the Education Plus Initiative with due con-sideration for human rights-based approaches.

• Contribute to mobilising youth friendly networks to promote human rights education amongst gender-diverse population and in particular the unique, inter-sectional needs of young key populations.

• Collaborate with legal experts and human rights organizations to strengthen the legal framework supporting the Education Plus Initiative, addressing any legislative gaps that may impact the human rights of the targeted populations.

• Foster partnerships with local civil society organizations specializing in human rights to leverage their expertise and ensure a robust human rights-based approach throughout the initiative.

2. Support coordination, development and implementation of human rights interventions for young key populations:

• Assist with the development and implementation of human rights training pro-grams (including within the Education Plus initiative), ensuring that all stake-holders, including staff, partners, and beneficiaries, are well-versed in the principles of human rights.

• Support Officer, Equality and Rights for All to coordinate actions under UN-AIDS and other relevant frameworks, within the context of advancing gender equality and human rights for young key populations.

• Support research on technical advisory pieces to the Ghana AIDS Commission, CHRAJ, Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General’s Department, Parliamentary Committees and other critical partners to ensure coordination, implementation, and monitoring of actions related to empowering young key populations.

• Provide assistance for preparing meeting briefs and reports to different commit-tees and working groups focused on empowering young key populations, hu-man rights, and gender equality.

3. Support efforts to strengthen civil society capacity on human rights initiatives:

• Support Officer on Equality and Rights for All to strengthen the capacity of civil society, including community-led, youth-led, and women-led organizations, for meaningful participation in addressing barriers and advancing gender equality for young key populations.

• Assist with conducting a comprehensive needs assessment to identify the key areas where civil society organizations require support, taking into account emerging trends, the diverse needs and challenges faced by community-based organizations working with young key populations.

• Help with designing training sessions, workshops, and resource-sharing initiatives to enhance the technical, organizational, and advocacy skills of CSOs, empowering them to effectively address barriers and contribute to gender equality and human rights for young key populations.

• Provide support for proposal developments for human rights programmes to CSOs, fostering a supportive environment for organizational development, strategic planning, and effective implementation of gender-inclusive and rights-based initiatives.

• Facilitate networking opportunities and partnerships between civil society organizations (particularly for young key populations), encouraging collaboration and knowledge-sharing to amplify their collective impact.

• Advocate for the recognition and inclusion of civil society perspectives (particularly from young key populations) in policy dialogues, ensuring that the voices of community-led, youth-led, and women-led organizations are central to decision-making processes related to young key populations.
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4. Contribute to mainstreaming youth voices in strategic documents guided by hu-man rights based approaches:

• Support the review of strategic documents, elaborate concept notes, and write proposals and projects related to empowering young key populations and advancing gender equality with the aim of mainstreaming youth perspectives.

• Assist with analysing data and trends related to the empowerment of young key populations and propose evidence-based interventions for policy and program improvement.

5. Human Rights Advocacy and Awareness:

• Help with the design and implementation of a comprehensive advocacy strategy to promote gender equality, human rights, and the empowerment of young key populations.

• Assist with the coordination of national campaigns and events aimed at raising awareness of gender equality, human rights, and empowerment of young key populations.

6. Partnership Building:

• Support partnerships with governmental, non-governmental, and international organizations to enhance collaboration on advancing gender equality and hu-man rights for young key populations.

7. Community Mobilization and Sensitization:

• Support community mobilization efforts to create awareness and support for gender equality, human rights, and the unique lived experiences of young key populations.

8. Any Other Related Tasks:
• Perform any other related tasks as required or assigned by the supervisor.