Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of gender-based discrimination, the empowerment of women and girls in all their diversity, and the achievement of gender equality across the nexus of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

At the heart of these obligations is the notion that all persons have an equal right to live free from violence and discrimination, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) persons. However, across the world, many people face social, political and economic exclusion and human rights violations based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) – with women and gender diverse persons facing added challenges that are common to and unique from other women’s experiences.

UN Women recognizes, as part of the global context in its Strategic Plan (2022-2025), that ‘women and girls who experience multiple forms of discrimination, including based on age, class, disability, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity or migration status have made the least progress’. With this awareness and propelled by its commitment to leave no one behind in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, UN Women is working to advance the human rights of LGBTIQ+ persons. UN Women has since established its first-ever, dedicated LGBTIQ+ Rights Specialist post (herein ‘the specialist’). This enhanced global leadership brings a more concerted, intersectional LGBTIQ+ lens to discourses and actions on human rights and gender equality in the UN system and beyond.

UN Women’s global LGBTIQ+ portfolio is housed in the headquarters’ Policy, Programme and Intergovernmental Division (PPID) to support broader objectives of setting programmatic standards and quality of programme design, providing technical guidance and building of capacity at country level, and additionally supporting UN coordination, providing policy expertise and building evidence, and advising intergovernmental processes. Although a global role, the specialist is based in the regional office for Asia and the Pacific to deepen these functions with a focus on supporting field presences.

This internship has been created to broadly provide support in the above-mentioned goals. The tasks and responsibilities may vary depending on needs, but will generally include the following areas.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Research and analysis: identify and monitor trends, gaps, challenges, and areas for further work (re. human rights situations, legal frameworks, socio-political contexts, discriminatory barriers, thematic issues, inequalities, etc.)
• Policy development: contribute analysis and assist in drafting and coordinating inputs on policy documents, research and position papers, briefing notes, and other public and internal materials.
• Support the development and implementation of an organizational action plan, to be determined.
• Communications and advocacy: support content development, in coordination with communications specialists across thematic and geographic areas, and assist in preparing materials, including statements, press releases, articles and social media messaging, as required.
• Outreach and engagement: monitor and identify key opportunities for and help coordinate outreach activities to engage with governments, civil society organizations and other stakeholders; support event planning/execution, including logistics, and material preparation for meetings, conferences, events, and awareness campaigns.
• Evaluation support: mapping of programmatic interventions and preparation of summaries.
• Internal capacity building: assist in organizing trainings, workshops and webinars to build staff and partner capacities, and develop, collate and compile educational resources and materials.
• Administrative and coordination support: provide general administrative support and help maintain, coordinate and facilitate engagement with global and regional knowledge exchange mechanisms and other internal spaces, including working groups and focal point networks.

Learning objectives:

Under the guidance of the specialist, the intern will have the opportunity to contribute meaningfully towards building up UN Women’s work agenda aimed at promoting equality, dignity, and respect for and advancing the human rights of people with diverse SOGIESC, globally. Objectives include:

• Direct experience contributing to the design, development and implementation of LGBTIQ+ focused initiatives in a complex, multilateral and international environment.
• Increased understanding of UN Women’s gender equality mandate in the context of the UN system.
• Enhanced capacity to conduct research and analysis, monitoring and evaluation and drafting to contribute to international policy development and intergovernmental discourse.
• Improved knowledge management and communications skills.
• Improved coordination and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Interpersonal and professional skills working as a team member in a diverse, multi-cultural setting.

Competencies

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity; Integrity; Professionalism

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Leading by Example

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies.

Functional Competencies:

• Demonstrated written and oral communication skills.
• Applied research and analytical skills, and capacity to synthesize substantial information.
• Ability to manage sensitive information relating to human rights – with respect and responsibility.
• Demonstrated knowledge of approaches to integrating LGBTIQ+ issues in human rights, gender equality, and development fields.
• Understanding of the UN system and international human rights framework and mechanisms.
• Capacity to plan, prioritize and deliver tasks on time, and adapt based on dynamic feedback.
• Technological and innovation skills.
• Interpersonal skills and ability to work independently and as a team player in a diverse setting.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• University studies in at least one of the following disciplines: Social Sciences, International Relations, Political/Development Studies, with strong gender component and preference for LGBTIQ+ focused study background.
• Meet one of the following.

1. Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a master’s programme, or higher);
2. Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent);
3. Be enrolled in a mandatory national service programme of which the internship may form a part;
4. Have recently graduated with a university degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above) and, if selected, must start the internship within two-years of graduation

Language:

• Excellent communication skills (written and oral) in English are required.
• Includes skills demonstrating attention to conceptual accuracy and use of accurate terminology.
• Working knowledge of another UN language is an advantage.

Renumeration:

Interns who are not in receipt of financial support from other sources such as universities or other institutions will receive a stipend from UN Women to partially subsidize their basic living costs for the duration of the internship.

Application Information:

• All applicants must submit a completed and signed P.11 form with their application.
• Due to the high volume of applications received, UN Women can ONLY contact successful candidates.
• The successful candidate will be required to provide proof of enrollment in a valid health insurance plan at the duty station of the internship, proof of school enrollment or degree, a scanned copy of their passport/national ID and a copy of a valid visa (as applicable).
• Interested candidates are encouraged to submit an electronic application to [email protected] with [email protected] in copy, not later than 10 May 2024, 23:59 hrs. Bangkok time.

Note:

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)