Organization of American States Caribbean Fellowship for CARICOM Citizens 2024

The Executive Secretariat of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) opens call for applications for fellowship. This fellowship offers an opportunity for young legal professionals from Caribbean OAS Member States to understand and apply the mechanisms of protection of the inter-American system of human rights.

Program: The fellow will support the work of the Monitoring Section 3 of the ES/IACHR, under the supervision of specialists and Section coordinator during the period of the fellowship.

Duties:

• Research of the human rights situation in specific countries and the preparation of the respective reports.
• Monitoring of the human rights situation in the Caribbean region.
• Support the preparation of annual, thematic, and country reports, particularly on human rights in the Caribbean.
• Preparation of memos and other documents for hearings, working meetings and visits of the Commission.
• Preparation of summaries, briefings and other documents for hearings, working meetings, and visits of the ES/IACHR.
• Collaboration in initiatives related to the promotion and dissemination of the inter-American system of human rights.
• Draft letters, press releases or other statements related to the human rights situation in the Caribbean.
• Other assigned activities related to the purpose of the Fellowship.

Aim and Benefits 

• The ES/IACHR provides a stipend of US $3,200.00 per month for the duration of the fellowship. With said stipend, the fellowship recipient is responsible for and required to purchase health coverage of his/her/their choice for the duration of the fellowship and must formally prove said purchase to the Executive Secretariat of the IACHR.
• The ES/IACHR will award a certificate of participation in the fellowship program to those who satisfactory complete the full period of the fellowship.
• The fellowship recipient may participate in person in the SE/IACHR's promotional activities, depending on the availability of resources.

Requirements 

Criteria:

1. Be a citizen of any of the following countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.
2. Have the necessary devices and technological services to work remotely, including a stable internet connection that allows video calls.
3. Advanced proficiency in English. Proficiency in Spanish is a strong advantage. Knowledge of Portuguese or French is considered an advantage.
4. Degree in law from an officially recognized university (attach copy).
5. Law degree issued within the past 7 (seven) years from the deadline of the application process.
6. Professional or educational experience in human rights.

Interview date, Process and Venue

• The IACHR will decide on a short list of applicants, of no more than 5 (five), who shall be invited for an interview by videoconference. After the interviews, the selected person will be notified accordingly.
• The result of the fellowship selection will be informed by e-mail to each applicant before the start date of the fellowship.
• The IACHR is responsible for interpreting the rules established in these Terms of Reference and for making the final decision as to the person selected for the Fellowship.

Duration: The fellowship will be for an 11 (eleven) month term 

Documents Required for Application

• Curriculum vitae.
• Copy of the Law degree issued within the last 7 (seven) years from the deadline of the application process.
• One letter of recommendation (academic or professional).
• Language level certificate (if not available, attach an explanatory note). No language certificate is necessary if English is your native language. Please attach a certificate to attest your proficiency in other languages.
• A cover letter stating your qualifications vis-a-vis the position requirements and indicating why your profile is a good fit.

Application Deadline

May 24, 2024

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to Organization of American States (OAS) on airtable.com to apply

Applications must be received no later than May 24, 2024, at 17:30 (EST) Washington, D.C., exclusively through the link above.

• Applications submitted by other means, incomplete applications and/or applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
• Subject to discretion, applicants may be requested to supplement their application forms with additional information.

For more details visit: OAS website.