Human Rights Associate – Women, Peace & Security

Mission and objectives

OHCHR’s office in Mexico works to ensure that institutions, Government authorities, and the United Nations Country Team have adequate information, understanding, and skills to identify human rights concerns and to develop measures to address them effectively. OHCHR-Mexico also works to ensure that civil society and human rights victims have increased awareness of human rights standards and mechanisms. Main activities are focused on technical cooperation and legal advice on harmonization of legislation, development of indicators on human rights, support the elaboration of public policies with human rights based approach, follow-up the international recommendations, gender and human rights, amongst other issues, and monitoring of human rights situation throughout the country, with emphasis on grave human rights violations (such as enforced disappearances and torture) as well as the situation of human rights defenders and journalists and the right of indigenous peoples to prior consultation. OHCHR-Mexico is divided into several functional units: Administration, Grave Human Rights Violations, Gender and ESCR, Democratic Space, Vulnerable Groups, Indicators and Public Communications. The UNV would be part of the Democratic Space Unit, which currently consists of a coordinator (international staff) and an international UNV. The Democratic Space Unit personally receives complaints of alleged human rights violations and gives legal orientation to victims, particularly human rights defenders, and journalists. The Democratic Space Unit also participates in field missions to follow up cases of alleged human rights violations, meeting with victims, family members of victims, local NGO´s and government authorities

Context

Mexico continues to face serious human rights challenges related to disappearances, violence, insecurity, and impunity, with one of the highest rates of disappearances in the world. Women searching for disappeared relatives (“mujeres buscadoras”) have become central actors in efforts to advance truth, justice, and accountability. Across the country, women-led collectives play a critical role in locating clandestine graves, promoting searches, documenting cases, and advocating for effective investigations, prevention, protection and institutional responses. At the same time, they frequently face insecurity, psychosocial impacts, and barriers to meaningful participation in search and criminal investigation processes. Within this context, OHCHR-Mexico works on monitoring, technical cooperation, advocacy, and engagement related to disappearances, accountability, victims’ rights, protection, and access to justice, with a particular focus on women, peace and security. The Office accompanies and engages with women-led search collectives, judicial authorities, prosecutors’ offices, search commissions, public human rights institutions, and civil society organizations to strengthen institutional responses and promote participation, protection, and gender-sensitive approaches in line with international human rights standards. The overall objective of this UN Volunteer assignment is to support OHCHR’s work on disappearances, accountability, and access to justice through research, monitoring, analysis, and technical cooperation. The assignment will provide exposure to OHCHR’s work on women, peace and security, victims’ participation, and the application of international human rights standards in search and criminal investigation processes.

Task Description

Under the direct supervision of the Coordinator of the Justice and Security Unit, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Support monitoring and analysis related to disappearances, victims’ rights, and access to justice, with particular attention to the participation and protection of women searchers and women-led collectives.
• Conduct legal and policy research related to international human rights standards applica-ble to search processes, criminal investigations, victims’ participation, gender, and ac-countability.
• Assist in drafting background notes, analytical documents, talking points, and summaries related to disappearances, women, peace and security, and justice sector issues.
• Support engagement and dialogue with search commissions, prosecutors’ offices, judicial authorities, women-led search collectives, civil society organizations, and public human rights institutions.
• Monitor recommendations, reports, and jurisprudence from UN and regional human rights mechanisms related to disappearances, women’s rights, accountability, and access to justice.
• Support the organization of workshops, consultations, technical meetings, and activities aimed at strengthening institutional capacities and promoting meaningful participation of victims and women searchers in search and investigation processes. During the first month of the assignment, the UN Volunteer will work closely with his/her direct supervisor to finalize an agreed-upon work plan. The work plan should outline key objectives and activities and include regular check ins with the supervisor to review progress and receive performance feedback.

Competencies and values

• Accountability
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Commitment and Motivation
• Communication
• Ethics and Values
• Integrity
• Respect for Diversity
• Working in Teams

Living conditions and remarks

Family duty station A Mexico City has well-developed infrastructure, including high-quality healthcare services, diverse housing options, banking services, public transportation, telecommunications, and a broad range of cultural and recreational facilities. Adequate educational facilities are available, including international, bilingual, and bicultural private schools, although places in some of the most sought-after schools may be limited. Mexico City is a major political, economic, and cultural hub in Latin America, offering a wide range of restaurants, cultural venues, museums, and public spaces. The city is located at an altitude of approximately 2,240 meters above sea level and generally has a mild climate throughout the year. Benito Juárez International Airport provides extensive domestic and international connections, facilitating travel within Mexico and abroad. The current security situation in Mexico is considered stable; however, common crime, including robbery, theft, and express kidnapping, remains a concern, particularly in large urban areas. Certain regions of the country continue to face elevated levels of violence linked to organized crime and insecurity. There is no direct threat specifically targeting UN personnel or other international organizations in Mexico. Nevertheless, personnel are expected to remain security-conscious and comply with applicable UN security guidance and protocols at all times. Movements within Mexico City can generally be carried out without restrictions, although staff members are advised to adopt standard security precautions, including maintaining situational awareness and avoiding high-risk areas or activities. Travel outside Mexico City, including field missions to states affected by insecurity, organized crime, social tensions, or institutional fragility, may require prior security clearance through the UNDSS system and must be undertaken in accordance with UN security procedures. The assignment may involve periodic travel to areas with heightened security risks or limited institutional presence. Flexibility, cultural sensitivity, and strict adherence to security protocols are essential. Conditions of Service The Conditions of Service, available here: https://explore.unv.org/cos, outline the policies and rules governing UN Volunteer assignments. Full information on entitlements at the duty station can be accessed here: https://app.unv.org/calculator.