Intern – OHCHR Library

Work Location

Geneva

Expected duration

This internship is being offered for an initial period of three (3) months, with possibility of extension up to a total period of six (6) months, with a commencement date ranging/ starting from 1 April 2024 to 1 July 2024.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is part of the UN Secretariat and is 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. The OHCHR Library and Human Rights Gateway is the main access point to knowledge and research on human rights and relevant work of the United Nations. Its resources include: Books and multimedia items; Online databases and journals; a database of all voting of the Commission on Human Rights and Human Rights Council resolutions and decisions; several Online research guides, such as on Rights of Persons with Disabilities or on International Commissions of Inquiry (CoIs) and Fact-Finding Missions; Human Rights Education and Training Resource Collection and Database; Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) Resource Collection and UDHR translations. ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING & REPORTING: This announcement broadcasts a vacancy for an internship assignment with the OHCHR Dynamic Knowledge and Library Team. Situated within the Methodology, Education and Training Section of the Thematic Engagement, Special Procedures and Right to Development Division (METS/TESPRDD), the OHCHR Library provides quality knowledge services and is a gateway to knowledge in the area of human rights and the work of the United Nations in the area of human rights. The Library supports the work of OHCHR staff across the world, the UN human rights mechanisms and special procedures, civil society, Member States, journalists, researchers, students and the public in general. The Library catalogue and links to other library resources and services can be consulted at: http://searchlibrary.ohchr.org/. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, under the general guidance and direction of the Coordinator of the Dynamic Knowledge and Library Team, the intern reports to the Library Assistant in the area of assignment. RESPONSIBILITIES The intern shall support the OHCHR Library in fulfilling its duties: to provide quality information and knowledge services and to be an effective gateway to information and knowledge in the area of human rights and, more specifically, of the work of the United Nations in the area of human rights. The intern shall also support the OHCHR Library in its move to a new facility. This will entail assisting the Library Assistant in planning, coordinating and implementing the Library move to the new selected place, by preparing the move of print collections. The intern will also support the development of a new platform, the Human Rights Knowledge Gateway, where thematic knowledge hubs will be hosted. In addition, the intern will contribute to development of content and resources for the new OHCHR intranet and knowledge hub. Daily responsibilities of interns supporting the OHCHR Library will depend on the individual’s background and specific duties and may include but are not limited to: assisting in digitization of human rights education and training materials, which includes scanning, editing and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) processing of materials; Assisting with ongoing enhancement of the Voting database of resolutions and decisions of the Commission on Human Rights and of the Human Rights Council and inclusion of amendments; conducting specialized and targeted research to respond to clients’ requests; to support the development of new Library Research Guides on areas of priority of the work of OHCHR; and performing other tasks requested by the supervisor as appropriate (i.e. cataloguing, reference, collection development, outreach and dissemination activities, etc.).

Qualifications/special skills

Education: To qualify for the United Nations Secretariat Internship Programme, applicants must, at the time of application, be enrolled in a graduate school programme (i.e. Master’s degree or equivalent degree, or higher) or in the final academic year of a first-level university degree programme (i.e. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent degree) in the area of library science, information science, knowledge management or a related field, OR have graduated with a university as defined above AND, if selected, must commence the internship within one year period from the date of graduation. Work Experience: Applicants are not required to have professional work experience for participation in the internship programme though any relevant academic and/or practical experience would be an advantage. In particular, academic experience in digitization trends and technologies, with an understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to libraries, information management, knowledge management and/or practical experience conducting research and analysis, using research sources or library work is an advantage. Applicants should be computer literate in standard software applications; have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations with a personal commitment to the values and ideals of the Charter, and have demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs – which includes willingness to understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another United Nations official language – Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish – is an asset.

Additional Information

ASSESSMENT ONLY CANDIDATES WHO HAVE BEEN SHORT LISTED WILL BE CONTACTED FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION Short-listed candidates will be contacted directly by the hiring manager for an informal interview after the review of their application. Incomplete Personal History Profiles (PHPs) will not be reviewed. For this reason, it is crucial that the cover letter: • Explains your motivation and why you are a suitable candidate for this OHCHR internship assignment; • Specifies your earliest date of availability to start the internship; • Indicates information technology (IT) skills and programs in which you are proficient; and • Notes the present period of academic studies underway and/or the exact title & date that more recent academic degree was awarded.

Intern Specific text

Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken, may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.