The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) is an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) composed of nearly 200 national human rights organisations from more than 115 countries. FIDH is a nonpartisan, non-sectarian, apolitical, and not for profit organisation. Since 1922, FIDH has been defending all human rights – civil, political, economic, social, and cultural – as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
As the transformation of societies is first and foremost the responsibility of local actors, its activities aim to strengthen their capacity for action and their influence.
The FIDH has its headquarters in Paris. The International Secretariat teams are present in Africa, Latin America, Asia and Europe. They are structured into an Operations and Programmes Department and an Advocacy Department, as well as Support Departments (Communication, Finance and Administration, Partnerships and Development, Human Resources).
You can find us on our social networks: :
https://www.instagram.com/fidh/
https://www.facebook.com/FIDH.HumanRights
https://www.youtube.com/c/FidhOrg/videos
We are now recruiting : A Delegate to the United Nations (F∕M) – Indefinite-term contract based in FIDH Geneva office
The FIDH’s Delegation in Geneva
- Represents FIDH before Geneva-based international organizations and institutions, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR); in particular, the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) and the UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies;
- Organizes the participation of FIDH’s member and partner organizations in the work of UN human rights bodies and mechanisms (support and assistance with regard to the submission of “parallel” or “alternative” reports, lobbying and advocacy, communication, etc.): mainly the UN Human Rights Council (including the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism), treaty monitoring bodies, and special procedures;
- Prepares and implements the interventions of lobbying and advocacy at the Human Rights Council, and defines advocacy strategies;Feeds UN human rights protection bodies and mechanisms, in particular UN special procedures and OHCHR’s sections and branches, based on information from FIDH member and partner organizations and develops the strategic analysis of institutional developments and advocacy opportunities;
Relays and reports on activities and events to FIDH’s International Secretariat based in Paris.
This mission is within the advocacy department.
Direct superviser : The representative, Head of the FIDH Delegation to the United Nations in Geneva
Missions & Responsibilities
A / Implementing the Delegation’s Activities
1. Strategic Advocacy on Human Rights at the United Nations
- Shape and contribute to the development of FIDH’s strategy regarding human rights mechanisms within the United Nations institutions.
- Organize institutional appointments and prepare meetings with political bodies of UN human rights protection mechanisms.
- Draft key documents, including position papers, referrals, and reports, informed by input from FIDH, its member organizations, and partners.
2. Gender Advocacy and UN Engagement
- Champion gender-related advocacy at the UN in Geneva and New York, contributing to FIDH’s broader advocacy objectives.
- Participate in intergovernmental discussions in Geneva and New York, of the Human Rights Council sessions to address gender-specific issues at the Human Rights Council sessions in Geneva and advocate for compliance with gender-related commitments in Universal Periodic Review (UPR) processes, and through the Commission on te Status of Women in New York.
- Collaborate with UN Special Procedures (e.g., Violence Against Women, Trafficking in Persons, Discrimination Against Women and Girls) by providing input to thematic studies and submitting reports.
- Actively engage with Treaty Bodies (e.g., CEDAW) and relevant Committees (e.g., CESCR, CRC) on gender equality.
- When relevant, partner with UN Agencies such as UN Women and OHCHR to contribute to campaigns, reports, and consultations focused on gender-specific priorities.
3. Multilateral Diplomacy and Advocacy
- Foster relationships with Member State Missions to promote gender-sensitive policies and amplify FIDH’s advocacy positions.
- Collaborate with like-minded NGOs to strengthen coalitions and influence UN resolutions or declarations related to gender equality.
- Organize side events, panels, and workshops during UN sessions to spotlight FIDH initiatives and promote dialogue among stakeholders.
4. Strategic Interface with Stakeholders
- Develop and implement action plans for effective engagement with UN mechanisms and political interlocutors.
- Facilitate the participation of FIDH member and partner NGOs in advocacy initiatives, providing support with document preparation, event organization, and meetings.
5. Dissemination of Advocacy Materials
- Ensure the strategic dissemination of advocacy documents to UN mechanisms and Member State representatives, and collaborate with the Communication Department to ensure the dissemination to the media.
6. Capacity Building on UN Advocacy
- Design and deliver tailored training sessions on UN advocacy strategies, focusing on human rights mechanisms such as the Human Rights Council, treaty bodies, and special procedures.
- Equip Human Rights Defenders and other stakeholders with tools and knowledge to navigate UN processes effectively.
- Collaborate with FIDH’s member organizations to align training content with emerging priorities and trends within the UN system.
7. Programming and Reporting
- Contribute to the delegation’s activity planning and reporting processes by maintaining an updated activity monitoring table and drafting detailed reports.
- Propose follow-up actions to improve advocacy effectiveness and outcomes.
B / Facilitating Interaction with Internal and External Stakeholders
1. Internal Coordination
- Share information regularly with FIDH’s geographical and thematic bureaus, fostering alignment and synergy between strategies and activities.
- Strengthen interaction with FIDH member organizations, encouraging their active participation and providing support for their advocacy initiatives.
2. External Partnerships
- Contribute to the exchange of information with external partners, identifying opportunities to develop joint strategies and collaborations that advance shared advocacy goals.
Candidate profile and other requirements:
- At least 5 years of professional experience in a similar position, upon entry into the position;
- Master’s degree in Political Science, International Relations, International Law, or Human Rights;
- Fluency in French and in English, both written and oral;
- Advance knowledge of the UN human rights mechanisms, in particular the Human Rights Council and international advocacy;
- Ability to work collaboratively in a team and create an inclusive environment with people at all levels;
- Interested in working in a multicultural environment;
- Good organizational and interpersonal skills;
Values : You are in total agreement with the values of the FIDH International Secretariat (professionalism, respect, commitment, equality, integrity, participation, boldness), as well as with FIDH’s commitment to the defence of the human rights of everyone, everywhere in the world, as set out in its statutes and in its publications, which can be accessed from its website: www.fidh.org
FIDH seeks diversity and is committed to equality by not discriminating in its hiring practices on the basis of origins, religion, age, disability, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, health status or any other situation protected by French and international human rights law.
For people with disabilities, we ask you to indicate in your cover letter any adaptations that would be useful to enable you to participate in the recruitment process in an optimal way.
Terms and conditions of employment
- Indefinite-term contract
- Position based in Geneva, Switzerland
- Salary 5 800 CHF gross per month based on 40 hours/week + one extra- month bonus
- Lunch bonus (25 CHF per work day) and transport refund
- Flexible working arrangements, including possibility of working remotely
Application deadline: 15 January 2025
Starting date : As soon as possible
Location : Geneva, Switzerland
How to apply
Applicants should send their CV and a brief cover letter (in English) by email recrutement@fidh.org quoting reference FIDH DELEGATE in the subject line.
Deadline : 15 January 2025
Interviews will take place as applications are received
FIDH reserves the right to close the recruitment process before the deadline for applications.
Only those candidates whose applications are selected will be contacted.