INTERN/VOLUNTEER (M/F) for project on enforced disappearances (Linking Solidarity)

The Programme Linking Solidarity
Linking Solidarity’ is a programme that focuses on the prevention of enforced disappearances and on better protection from this specific human rights violation worldwide. Activities range from lobbying and campaigning at the United Nations to supporting the strengthening of local organisations of families of disappeared persons. The main counterparts of the programme are the associations of these families in the different continents.

Function and tasks

Research and assistance to human rights defenders involved in enforced disappearance cases

Relatives of disappeared persons are human rights defenders. Some of them require specific attention and assistance. The international community is dedicating much attention to the issue of human rights defenders but practical means to assist individual defenders in very concrete situation are either not yet in place or still lacking.

In order to get a better grip on how best to support the defenders we meet, we would like to research the existing means for assistance to human rights defenders and assess their effectiveness. This research will draw input from a few case-studies, of which the first one concerns a human rights defender from Latin America.

Required profile
The LS team therefore is looking for assistance from an intern/volunteer with the following skills and competencies:

• Working knowledge of English
• Fluency in Spanish
• Dutch would be considered an asset
• Affinity with human rights issues
• Basic computer skills
• Sense of pragmatism

Duration
Ideally the intern/volunteer would be able to dedicate a minimum of 8 hours weekly to the task, over a period of at least six weeks. The starting date would be on June 15th 2008.

Conditions
Aim for human rights offers:

• a pleasant, enthusiastic and stimulating professional environment;
• transport allowance (for residence-office commuting up to 50 km);
• free lunch on the days of presence at the office

Duty Station:    Utrecht Town centre

Additional information/ Applications
For more information, please contact Mr. Ewoud A. PLATE, Sr. Programme Officer Linking Solidarity 030 230 44 27, or consult our website.

For application send a motivation letter as well as your curriculum vitae by e-mail to e.plate(at)aimforhumanrights.nl before June 10 2008.