Mission and objectives

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (United Nations Human Rights) is the leading United Nations entity on human rights. We represent the world’s commitment to the promotion and protection of the full range of human rights and freedoms set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The High Commissioner and the Office play a unique role in: • Promoting and protecting all human rights: We speak out objectively against human rights violations and help develop the standards used to assess global progress in human rights. • Helping empower people: Our research, education, and advocacy activities contribute to greater awareness and engagement by the international community and the public on human rights issues. This means that thousands of people in all regions of the world are empowered to claim their rights. • Supporting governments: Through our field presences, we help prevent abuses and mitigate situations that could lead to conflict. Our monitoring and analysis inform sensitive decision-making and development programming. We also provide capacity-building and legal advice to thousands of people, supporting the thoughtful development and enactment of laws and policies worldwide. • Embedding a human rights perspective across all United Nations programs: We integrate human rights into all UN programs to ensure that peace and security, development, and human rights — the three pillars of the United Nations system — are interconnected and mutually reinforcing.

Context

OHCHR-Colombia was established, upon request of the Commission on Human Rights and the initiative of the Government of Colombia, on 29 November 1996 by an Agreement between the Government of Colombia and the High Commissioner for Human Rights, (E/CN.4/1997/11). OHCHR has been present in Colombia since 1997. OHCHR-Colombia operates from the capital city, Bogotá, and five offices across the country. It implements a comprehensive strategy that includes:1) monitoring of the human rights situation with a view to advising authorities in formulating and implementing policies, programmes and measures to promote and protect human rights, also in the context of violence, including through the presentation of annual reports on the human rights situation in Colombia to the Human Rights Council; 2) cooperation and technical assistance and advice to the Government to promote respect and observance of human rights and international humanitarian law in Colombia; 3) provision of technical assistance and advice to civil society and non-governmental human rights organizations and individuals, and 4) promotion of human rights to the general public and dissemination of information on international human rights and humanitarian law standards. Within the framework of its work on the human rights of refugees and migrants from Venezuela, OHCHR will integrate the UN Volunteer into its Country Office in Colombia. The UN Volunteer will be based in Cúcuta and may undertake missions to other locations in the country, as required. This presence will contribute to enhancing the visibility of OHCHR’s work and will support strengthened documentation and analysis of human rights situations, including from a gender perspective, with a view to preventing and addressing human rights violations affecting migrants during their journeys and at border areas.

Task Description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Coordinator of the field presence and the overall coordination of the OHCHR Representative, the UN Volunteer contributes to the following tasks: • Collect information and report on the human rights situation of refugees and migrants, particularly those from Venezuela, including through engagement with other United Nations actors, international NGOs, State authorities, public institutions, and civil society; • Participate in meetings of inter-agency coordination mechanisms (R4V) at the national level and assist in formulating proposals and recommendations to promote a human rights-based approach to migration; • Conduct interviews with victims and key local stakeholders in the duty station in order to identify abuses and human rights violations, with a special focus on the impact on refugees and migrants; • Draft reports and follow up on cases of human rights violations under the supervision of the OHCHR Office in Colombia; • Carry out legal analysis on human rights issues, particularly on the rights of migrants, including from a gender perspective; • Provide technical assistance and follow-up to activities with counterparts and partners; • Assist with other tasks relevant to the position, as required or assigned by designated officers of the OHCHR Office in Colombia. • Integrating gender and ethnic perspectives, with specific attention to issues related to women and girls, including conflict related sexual violence, within all assigned human rights activities; • Help with occasional basic administrative tasks when needed; • Perform other related duties as required. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day). • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country. • Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities. • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc. • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers. • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Competencies and values

• Accountability • Ethics and Values • Integrity • Adaptability and flexibility • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Communication skills • Working in Teams • Commitment and Motivation

Living conditions and remarks

Colombia is a large country (1,141,748 km2); its population stands at around 52 million. Cúcuta, the capital of the department of Norte de Santander in northeastern Colombia, is located on the border with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. According to official projections from the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE), the municipality of San José de Cúcuta has an estimated population of approximately 812,000 inhabitants in 2024. The department of Norte de Santander shares a physical border with Venezuela, and Cúcuta is a major transit point for people moving through or staying in the region, including both the local Colombian population and those arriving from Venezuela. This context creates a dynamic environment that requires high cultural sensitivity, flexibility, and a strong commitment to living and working in challenging conditions. The city is served by Camilo Daza International Airport (IATA: CUC), which is one of the main points of air access to northeastern Colombia. In 2023, the airport handled more than 1.5 million passengers and over 17,000 aircraft operations, offering both domestic flights and connections to other major Colombian cities. Cúcuta also has a network of public and private health services that provide emergency care and specialized medical attention. The health system in the city and the wider department is administered by the Municipal Institute of Health (IMSALUD) and the Departmental Health Authority and includes several state hospitals and private clinics. Additionally, regional initiatives such as coordinated health response efforts have been implemented to improve access to healthcare for both local residents and mobile populations, including migrants. The city’s border context creates a dynamic environment that requires high cultural sensitivity and adaptability. Living and working comfortably and affordably in Cúcuta may require flexibility and a strong commitment, including the ability and willingness to operate in challenging conditions. Upon arrival, all UN Volunteers receive a security briefing from the UNDP security office, which covers the security environment of the duty station, key security measures to be followed, and support available to UNVs in securing appropriate living quarters.