Applications are now being accepted for the 2024 UN Human Rights Commission Fellowship Programme, specifically tailored for individuals of African descent who are actively engaged in advocating for the rights of people of African descent.
This intensive training program, held once a year at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, offers participants a unique opportunity to:
- Enhance their understanding of international human rights law, the UN human rights system, and frameworks for combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance, with a particular focus on issues affecting people of African descent.
- Develop skills in project proposal writing, public speaking, and engaging with human rights mechanisms.
- Gain firsthand experience with human rights mechanisms and interact with a diverse range of stakeholders.
The primary goal of the Fellowship Programme is to empower participants to contribute effectively to the promotion and protection of the civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights of people of African descent in their respective countries. Participants will be equipped with the necessary tools to support the development of legislation, policies, and programs, foster collaboration between civil society and governments, and conduct local awareness-raising initiatives.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must be individuals of African descent residing in the Diaspora.
- They should possess a minimum of four years of relevant work experience related to the rights of people of African descent.
- Applicants must present a letter from an organization that works on issues affecting individuals of African heritage or minority rights proving their status..
- Selected fellows must be available to participate in the entire duration of the program and actively engage in all scheduled activities.
Fellowship Schedule:
- The Fellowship is scheduled to take place from November 11th to November 29th, 2024, in Geneva, Switzerland. Additionally, fellows are required to allocate a few hours to complete pre-online courses and preparatory assignments in the two weeks preceding the program.
Benefits:
- Each fellow will receive an economy class return ticket from their country of residence to Geneva, basic health insurance coverage, and a stipend to cover modest accommodation and living expenses for the duration of the program.
Application Process:
To apply, candidates should gather the following documents into one email and submit it to ohchr-africandescentfellowship@un.org:
- Curriculum Vitae
- A fully completed, signed, and scanned Application Form merged into a single document.
- A Personal Statement (maximum 500 words) detailing the applicant’s motivation for applying and how they intend to utilize the knowledge gained to advance the interests and rights of people of African descent.
- An Official Letter from the nominating organization or community certifying the candidate’s status.
- A copy of the applicant’s passport.
- Please note that submissions containing more than five attachments will not be accepted.
Important: Make sure the subject line of your email is: “Application for the 2024 Fellowship Programme for People of African Descent.” Rename the associated papers as follows:
LAST NAME First name – Type of documentExample: SMITH Jacqueline – Application form.docSMITH Jacqueline – Personal Statement.docSMITH Jacqueline – Letter certifying Status.pdfSMITH Jacqueline – Passport.pdf
For additional details,
Application Deadline: May 31, 2024.
