Mission and objectives

The Human Rights Advisory Unit (HRAU), established in 2013, is located in the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Dili and is composed of staff of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The Human Rights Advisory Unit works as part of the UN Country Team (UNCT) to support Timor-Leste to comply with its legal obligations under international human rights law, as well as to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The Unit provides advice to the Resident Coordinator and assists the UNCT to integrate human rights into programmes and activities. It also provides, upon request, technical advice to Government, national institutions and civil society on a variety of human rights issues, including engagement with human rights mechanisms such as the Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and Treaty Bodies; and conducts human rights capacity-building for a range of governmental, non-governmental actors and other partners. The HRAU in particular provides capacity development support, including training and mentoring, to the national human rights institution (the Provedoria for Human Rights and Justice), as well as civil society organizations on human rights standards and how to engage with national and international mechanisms to protect those standards.

Context

The Human Rights Advisory Unit in Timor-Leste works within the United Nations Country Team to support national efforts in strengthening the promotion, protection, and integration of human rights across government, Provedoria for Human Rights and Justice, civil society, and development initiatives. The HRAU provides technical advice, capacity-building, and coordination support to ensure that international human rights standards are effectively integrated into the national laws, policies, and public services delivery. The unit works in close collaboration with state institutions, civil society, National Human Rights Institution (the Provedoria for Human Rights and Justice), and UN agencies to advance inclusive, rights-based development align with national priorities and global commitments. The Unit reports to and is functionally supported by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), headquartered in Geneva and Bangkok, ensuring coherence with international human rights mechanisms and standards, including treaty body engagement, Universal Periodic Review and thematic human rights initiatives. In this context, UN Associate Volunteers (undergraduate students) will be primarily tasked with entry-level research in the mechanics of the international human rights system as it connects to realities on the ground as well as provision of programmatic support while gaining practical experience in and exposure to human rights and democratic governance.

Task Description

• Assist in collecting and organizing data on basic human rights issues. • Support preparation of briefing notes, summaries, and background papers. • Assist in organizing workshops, seminars and meetings. • Assist in compiling information relevant to human rights monitoring. • Support preparation of 4th UPR cycle of Timor-Leste. • Support to monitoring and follow-up on the human rights treaties. Secondary Education, currently studying towards a degree in Human Rights, Law, and / or international relations or political science • Updated list of government departments and institutional structures.

Competencies and values

​​☒​Accountability ​​☒​Adaptability and Flexibility ​​☒​Building Trust ​​☐​Client Orientation ​​☒​Commitment and Motivation ​​☒​Commitment to Continuous Learning ​​☒​Communication ​​☐​Creativity ​​☐​Empowering Others ​​☒​Ethics and Values ​​☒​Integrity ​​☐​Judgement and Decision-making ​​☐​Knowledge Sharing ​​☐​Leadership ​​☐​Managing Performance ​​☒​Planning and Organizing ​​☒​Professionalism ​​☒​Respect for Diversity ​​☐​Self-Management ​​☐​Technological Awareness ​​☐​Vision ​​☒​Working in Teams

Living conditions and remarks

Timor Leste is half of a tropical island on the Australian continental shelf characterized by a rugged mountain chain running east-west that divides the country into a generally warmer north coast and a milder south coast. The capital city, Dili, is located in the north. Climate: The climate along the coast is relatively warm hot year round with an annual average temperature of 30°C. There are two distinct seasons: the north-east monsoon season, which runs from November to March, constitutes the rainy season throughout the country. The south-east monsoon season, which runs from March to October, constitutes the dry season with some rain on the southern coast but otherwise dry and windy conditions in the rest of the country. The climate inland with its high mountains can be cool with an annual average temperature of 15°C. Health: At the moment, Stamford clinic serves as a recommended medical facility for UN staff. It has two approved UN physicians that can perform primary healthcare and simpler treatments, or recommend medical evacuation to Singapore. There is a national hospital with some international staff and a limited number of other private clinics in Dili. For more complex medical treatment and assessment, it is necessary to evacuate to neighbouring countries such as Darwin or Singapore. Most of the population is vaccinated against COVID-19 and booster shots are available for UN staff (if needed). It’s recommended to be fully vaccinated prior to travel. Diet, Food and Water: Most staple foods can be found in the markets such as rice, meat, vegetables, cooking oil, salt and sugar. There are many local markets around Dili as well as four supermarkets that are stocked with imported goods, mainly from Australia, Indonesia, Singapore and China. Dili has a large number of restaurants, cafes and bars. There is a variety of food ranging from Western to Southeast Asian fare. You can also find several local warungs with less expensive meals. The price range for a meal can range from $3 to $20+. Telecommunications: At the moment, there are three telecommunication providers in country, Timor Telecom and Telcomcel and Telemor. While Timor Telecom has been long present, Telcomcel and Telemor were newly launched in Timor-Leste, and started operating in February 2013. The SIM cards cost $2-3 and pre-paid/pulsa cards range from $1 to $50. Further, depending on UN Agency, you may receive a PIN code to make international phone calls that will be charged to your VLA. Hotels: The host agency in Dili will help arrange your initial accommodation in a hotel, at your expense. Most of the hotels in Dili are aimed at internationals and offer a good level of comfort with air-conditioned rooms and en-suite bathrooms. You can expect to pay from $30 to $50 per night. Permanent Accommodation: Expect that your accommodation will range from the very basic to adequate, although many private houses in Dili have been renovated to a reasonable or even considered ‘luxurious’ level of comfort. The rate of reconstruction and renovation in the districts has been much slower than in Dili. Accommodation is far more likely to be of a very basic level.