OHCHR: Human Rights Specialist – Panama City

Organization Mission

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is the Secretariat Department responsible for strengthening international human rights mechanisms; enhancing equality and countering discrimination; combating impunity and strengthening accountability and the rule of law; integrating human rights in development and in the economic sphere; widening the democratic space; and early warning and protection of human rights in situations of conflict, violence and insecurity .

Context

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Central America (OHCHR) is the leading UN entity on human rights. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly through resolution 48/141 of 20 December 1993. OHCHR’s mandate is to promote and protect the universal respect and observance of all human rights.

The OHCHR mandate is implemented through, among other functions:
• Promoting and protecting the effective enjoyment of all human rights—including civil, cultural, economic, political, and social rights—for all, as well as the realization of the right to development;
• Engaging in dialogue with all governments, aiming to ensure the respect of all human rights;
• Playing an active role in addressing obstacles and challenges to the full realization of human rights and preventing continued human rights violations globally;
• Enhancing international cooperation for the protection and promotion of all human rights;
• Coordinating human rights promotion and protection activities across the UN system.

Key Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of either the Regional Representative of the Regional Office for Central America and the Dominican Republic or the Human Rights Officer, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Support monitoring of the human rights situation in Panama and provide technical assistance, in coordination with the UN Country Team (UNCT), to promote compliance with international human rights standards;
• Contribute to documentation and production of analytical materials (reports, briefs, matrices, early warnings) on civil and political rights violations, with particular attention to the differentiated impacts on women, Afro-descendants, migrants, and human rights defenders;
• Support planning, implementation, and systematization of technical assistance, advocacy, and dialogue activities with state institutions, civil society, and other stakeholders on issues related to the rule of law, rights of vulnerable groups, protection of human rights defenders, and alignment of national legal frameworks with international standards;
• Collaborate on initiatives to strengthen protection and participation mechanisms at national and regional levels, including protection networks, observatories, dialogue platforms, and coordination processes between authorities and civil society;
• Support integration of the human rights approach in UN system work in Panama through technical input for joint planning, legislative framework evaluations, impact analyses, and promotion of human rights-based approaches in justice, security, and governance;
• Contribute to preparation of materials to support follow-up to international human rights recommendations (UPR, treaty bodies, special procedures), including thematic analysis and support in articulating strategies with state and non-state actors;
• Support visibility actions and strategic communication on Office priorities related to rule of law and civic space, including contributions to newsletters, social media content, speeches, and public event materials;
• Participate in team meetings, regional exchanges, and inter-agency coordination activities, providing input and best practices to support a coordinated regional response;
• Fulfill other tasks related to their professional profile and OHCHR’s mandate, as assigned in line with strategic priorities.

Expected Results:
As an active member of the OHCHR team, the UN Volunteer will provide timely, effective, client-friendly, and high-quality support to the Office and its beneficiaries, including:
• Systematic and updated analysis of rule of law and civic space in the region to inform monitoring, advocacy, and prevention strategies.
• Analytical documents, early warnings, and knowledge products focused on civil and political rights, gender, and non-discrimination to guide OHCHR and partners’ work.
• Technical assistance and capacity-building activities implemented or systematized in collaboration with public institutions, protection mechanisms, and civil society to promote legal frameworks and policies aligned with international standards.
• Participation and protection mechanisms identified and strengthened, especially regional civil society networks, human rights defenders, and justice system actors.
• Human rights recommendations from international mechanisms incorporated into national strategies, supported through technical assistance for implementation and follow-up.
• Greater integration of the human rights approach in regional UN system initiatives, including inter-agency planning processes and cooperation frameworks.
• Visibility materials, strategic communications, and best practice documentation developed to support public advocacy and strengthen the human rights narrative in the region.

Required Skills and Experience

• Experience in human rights field at national or international level.
• Excellent knowledge of international human rights instruments and tools for their promotion and protection is required.
• Experience working with UN agencies and relevant regional actors, is an asset.
• Self-motivation, ability to work with minimal supervision, and ability to meet tight deadlines.
• Experience working on human rights in Latin America and the Caribbean is desirable.

Core Competencies

☒ Adaptability and Flexibility
☒ Building Trust
☒ Client Orientation
☒ Commitment and Motivation
☒ Communication
☒ Ethics and Values
☒ Integrity
☒ Planning and Organizing
☒ Professionalism
☒ Respect for Diversity
☒ Self-Management
☒ Working in Teams

Living Conditions

The Republic of Panama is a country located in southeastern Central America. Its capital is Panama City. It is bordered to the north by the Caribbean Sea, to the south by the Pacific Ocean, to the east by Colombia and to the west by Costa Rica. Due to its geographical posi-tion, it currently offers the world a wide platform of maritime, commercial, real estate and fi-nancial services, including the Colon Free Zone, the largest free zone on the continent and the second largest in the world. Panama has a lower crime rate than many other countries in the region. The current security level for this capital is Low – 2. Gun violence in Panama City is not uncommon, and home invasions occur regularly in certain areas. Based on incidents reported by local police, the areas of high crime in Panama City are San Miguelito, Río Abajo, El Chor-rillo, Curundú, Playa Veracruz, Panamá Viejo and Tocumen. Police checkpoints are common, mainly on weekends in and around major cities. The Panama Canal is the country’s most im-portant economic asset. In the western province of Chiriqui, several minor earthquakes have been recorded, ranging from levels 4-5.2 (Richter), without causing damage. Dengue and Zika virus: Panama declares a health alert throughout the national territory. It is recommended to use repellents, long-sleeved shirts and pants and to ensure that the rooms are equipped with mosquito nets. Panama is the third most competitive country in Latin America according to the World Economic Forum, but it is also the Latin American country with the highest economic growth, in absolute terms, that is, without taking into account the distribution of wealth. As this is a national assignment of United Nations Volunteers, the United Nations Volunteer will be responsible for organizing his or her own housing and other basic necessities of life. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance scheme.