Research and Admin fellowship: Americas (Spanish/Portuguese speaking).

The selected candidate will work in close coordination with the Protection Coordinators working in the region, and will also provide support to other relevant staff across other programme areas in relation to our work in the Americas, as required. The fellowship will be for nine months (extendable to 1 year) and based in Front Line Defenders’ office in Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

The fellowship is designed to provide training and practical work experience in an international non-governmental organisation to recent graduates seeking a career in human rights. The fellow will learn about Human Rights Defenders; the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders; the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur; the role of Front Line Defenders and other national and international organisations in the support and protection of human rights defenders; the specific situation and challenges facing human rights defenders in the region and advocacy at the EU level. They will be expected to participate in induction, periodic reviews, weekly team and case meetings, and relevant out-of-hours events.

Front Line Defenders, The International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (www.frontlinedefenders.org) was founded in Dublin in 2001 with the aim of providing practical assistance and protecting human rights defenders (HRDs) at risk – people who work, non-violently, for any or all of the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Front Line Defenders maintains its headquarters in Dublin, an EU Office in Brussels, and regionally based field staff in all world regions.

Background

Key Responsibilities

– Provide support to the Protection Coordinators working on the Americas, including casework and dealing with queries and correspondence with human rights defenders;

– Input HRD-related information on the Front Line Defenders’ database;

– Undertake research on the situation of human rights defenders in countries in the region, including information on killings of HRDs for the HRD Memorial Project

– Compile and draft as requested briefings, country summaries, input to reports, urgent appeals, or other materials;

– Provide support to staff across other programme areas in relation to activities carried out in the region, including in particular in the organisation of and follow-up on trainings;

– Carry out administrative duties as requested, including the taking of minutes in meetings, as well as translating administrative documents from Spanish/English and English/Spanish;

– Provide Spanish and Portuguese language support as necessary, including simultaneous translation for human rights defenders;

– Work on other specific projects and tasks relating to human rights defenders as requested.

-Provide flexible support to the Rest and Respite programme, including, but not limited to, accompanying human rights defenders to events and translating.

Person Specification

The successful candidate will be able to draft well and have good analytical skills.

They will have some knowledge of the UN system, the EU system and international and human rights law.

They must be able to work in both English and Spanish. Portuguese is highly desirable. Please note that we cannot make exceptions to the language requirement.

They will be able to work on own initiative and as a member of a team.

They will have good oral and written communication skills and be computer literate.

They will be flexible, have good interpersonal skills, good stress management skills and be cooperative. An ability to multitask and prioritize is a must.

Previous work experience with organisations working in the field of human rights is desirable.

Stipend and Benefits

The contract is based on a 30 hour week, Monday to Friday, based in our Head Office in Dublin. Front Line Defenders is able to provide a contribution to living costs of €1400 per month. Front Line Defenders will cover the cost of their flights to and from Dublin, as well as health insurance and visa related costs. Please note that the cost of living in Dublin is high and that you may need additional funds to sustain your stay in Ireland. Front Line Defenders will assist with the Irish visa application process where relevant.

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.