Frank Jennings Fellowship

The Frank Jennings Fellowship was set up to give an opportunity for dedicated and talented individuals to gain experience working for the protection of human rights defenders in an international NGO and at the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. It is named after Front Line Defenders' former Head of Research who died after a long illness in 2005. Frank made a huge contribution to the development of human rights activism in Ireland and candidates who have some experience of human rights work or study in Ireland will be given priority.

The Frank Jennings Fellow will spend three and a half months at Front Line Defenders where they will be trained in relation to Human Rights Defenders; the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders; the Mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur; the procedures and methodology of the mandate; the role of Front Line Defenders and other national and international organisations in the support and protection of Human Rights Defenders. The Fellow will then enter an internship programme at the OHCHR and will move to Geneva for a period of six months before returning to Front Line Defenders for a further three months.

The successful candidate will have excellent drafting skills and a proven ability of synthesising and condensing large amounts of information into succinct briefings. They will also have excellent administrative skills. They will have some knowledge of the UN system and international and human rights law. They must have native or native-level English and fluency in Spanish or French- with preference for Spanish (please note we can’t make exceptions to the language requirements). They will have good oral and written communication skills and be computer literate. They will be flexible and co-operative. Some previous work experience with organisations working in the field of human rights would be desirable. They will be a recent university graduate (see note below).

Basic Terms of reference – Front Line Defenders Dublin

• Provide support to Front Line Defenders' Protection Coordinators including dealing with routine queries and correspondence with human rights defenders;
• Cooperate closely with the Regional Fellows and Protection Coordinators in drafting urgent appeals on behalf of human rights defenders at risk around the world
• Input HRD-related information on the Front Line Defenders database;
• Undertake clerical tasks such as data entry, collating, emailing and maintenance of the database
• Support follow-up on cases taken up by Front Line Defenders or other specific projects relating to Human Rights Defenders as requested;
• Draft as requested, minutes, briefings, reports, appeals;

Basic Terms of Reference – Geneva SR

• Gather information on the situation of human rights defenders around the world (with a particular focus on themes of concern identified by the SR);
• In coordination with other thematic mechanisms and with geographic desk officers, and under the supervision of the HRD assistant to the SR, draft urgent appeals and communications to Governments concerning human rights violations against human rights defenders;
• Support follow-up of cases;
• Analyse replies received from Governments and prepare summaries for inclusion in the annual Human Rights Council (HRC) report;
• Assist in the drafting of annual reports to the HRC and the General Assembly;
• Assist in the preparation of background materials for official missions by the Special Rapporteur;
• Assist in liaising with non-governmental organizations for the smooth implementation of the mandate, as needed.

Whilst in Geneva, OHCHR internship regulations will apply.

Honorarium: €1651 per month Dublin and €1700 per month Geneva.

Please note that in order to comply with OHCHR internship regulations, applicants will need to be currently enrolled in university or have graduated from university no more than one year previous to beginning the OHCHR internship.

Front Line Defenders is an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

In providing protection and support to human rights defenders, Front Line Defenders and its staff are committed to:

• focus on the primacy and centrality of defenders;
• demonstrate profound respect and empathy for defenders;
• meet the needs expressed by the defenders in a fast, flexible and relentless manner;
• achieve tangible impact;
• act with independence, impartiality and integrity;
• perform with dedication, professionalism and accountability;
• show transparency and openness;
• develop participative and cooperative relations.