Description of assignment title
UN Youth Volunteer in Protection
Assignment country
China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Expected start date
01/03/2023
Sustainable Development Goal
16. Peace, justice and strong institutions
Volunteer category
National UN Youth Volunteer
DoA reserved for persons with disabilities
No
Host entity
UNHCR CHN
Type
Onsite
Duration
12 months (with possibility of extension)
Number of assignments
1
Duty stations
Hong Kong
Mission and objectives
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. The Agency is mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees.
We work to ensure that everybody has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge, having fled violence, persecution, war or disaster at home. Since 1950, we have faced multiple crises on multiple continents, and provided vital assistance to refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced and stateless people, many of whom have nobody left to turn to.
Context
UNHCR’s presence in Hong Kong dates back from the Comprehensive Plan of Action (CPA) period when over 200,000 Vietnamese Boat People fled to Hong Kong to seek asylum. After the end of the CPA, and in view of the fact that the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees was not extended to Hong Kong, UNHCR had undertaken Refugee Status Determination (RSD) under its own mandate.
However, on 25 March 2013, the Court of Final Appeal of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region delivered judgment in C & others v Director of Immigration and the Secretary for Security (FACV18/2011). The Court ruled that the Hong Kong Government, despite not being Party to the 1951 Convention/1967 Protocol, has an independent duty, subject to judicial review, to enquire into whether asserted fear of persecution in the event of return is well-founded. The Court further stated the Government cannot defer to or rely on UNHCR RSD decision making, although it should give weight to UNHCR’s decisions.
In compliance with the judgment, the Hong Kong Government commenced its Unified Screening Mechanism (USM) on 03 March 2014 to assess claims for non-refoulement protection. Such claims are those lodged by persons not having the right to enter and remain in Hong Kong, on the basis that removing them to another country would expose them to a risk of torture or persecution. Substantiated claimants are referred to UNHCR and are then considered as our Persons of Concern, for whom we actively seek opportunities for the long and short term, inside and outside of Hong Kong respectively. Despite UNHCR’s changing role in Hong Kong, we continue working with all stakeholders to ensure that our Persons of Concern receive adequate protection and assistance, as well as to seek durable solutions for refugees.
Task description
Under the supervision of the Head of Sub-Office (Hong Kong) and Senior Protection Associate, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
• Communication with Persons of Concern
• Referrals to relevant stakeholders
• Face to face / online engagements with Persons of Concern
• Communication with Government, NGOs and legal partners
• Keeping abreast of media developments relating to refugees in Hong Kong
• Monitoring incoming communications
• Translating communications between Chinese and English
• Assisting in the preparation of resettlement submissions
• Assisting in the management of protection and solutions planning
• Attending meetings with relevant stakeholders
• Making appointments, keeping minutes, and documenting key events
• Ensuring all digital database and paper file records are kept up to date
• Provide administrative/programme support as required
• Undertaking other duties as required in support of the team
Furthermore, UNVs are encouraged to:
• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and taking an active part in UNV activities (for instance, IVD
celebration events);
• Get acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
• Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking;
• Contribute news and articles on field experiences and submit them to UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UNV volunteers;
• Promote online volunteering and encourage individuals and organizations to use the UNV
Online Volunteering Service whenever technically feasible.
Results/Expected Output:
• As an active UNHCR team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support is rendered to UNHCR and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions including;
o Provision of quality support in maintaining the protection functions of the Sub-Office
o Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment;
o A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism
Eligibility criteria
Age
18 - 26
Nationality
Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.
Requirements
Required experience
• Demonstrated interest and/or experience in refugee protection or related field
• Fluent written and spoken English and Chinese. Fluency in Cantonese is preferrable.
• Ability to work in a small team, sometimes with limited supervision
• Reliability in keeping deadlines and delivering a high quality of work
• Strong organizational skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Strong communication skills
• Strong IT skills
Area(s) of expertise
Administration, Communication, Security and protection
Driving license
-
Languages
English, Level: Working knowledge, Required
Chinese, Level: Working knowledge, Required
Required education level
Bachelor degree or equivalent in International law, human rights, social work or development related field
Competencies and values
☒ Accountability
☒ Adaptability and Flexibility
☒ Building Trust
☒ Client Orientation
☒ Commitment and Motivation
☒ Commitment to Continuous Learning
☒ Communication
☒ Ethics and Values
☒ Integrity
☒ Judgement and Decision-making
☒ Planning and Organizing
☒ Professionalism
☒ Respect for Diversity
☒ Self-Management
☒ Working in Teams
Learning Expectations
Learning and development are a central part of the UN Youth Volunteer’s assignment and take place before, during and after his or her assignment in the field. Ideally, offering diverse opportunities for learning and development aim to strengthen the volunteer’s skills and competences, improve the quality of the assignment and keep the volunteer’s motivation high.
Learning elements for the UN Youth Volunteer include the development of:
Professional skills: including specific competencies and reflection on assignment-related abilities; and on the job skills such as time management, problem solving, team building; and career preparedness such as interview skills, CV preparation, job searching.
Inter-personal skills: including communication and listening skills; multi-cultural awareness and cultural competency; and conflict and stress management.
Volunteering-related skills: including leadership; civic responsibility; and engagement and active participation.
Beyond the learning opportunities provided by UNV, the host agency will support knowledge and capacity development in the technical areas that are relevant to the UN Youth Volunteer’s assignment. The host agency will provide, at its expense, UN Youth Volunteers with equal opportunity to participate in training courses and
workshops offered to its personnel.
Other information
Living conditions and remarks
Supervision, induction and duty of care of UN Volunteers
UN Volunteers should be provided equal duty of care as extended to all host entity personnel. Host entity support to the UN Volunteer includes, but is not limited to:
Introductory briefings about the organisation and office-related context including security, emergency procedures, and code of conduct;
Structured guidance, mentoring and coaching by a supervisor including a clear workplan and performance appraisal;
Access to office space, equipment, IT support and any other systems and tools required to complete the objectives of the assignment including a host entity email address;
Access to shared host entity corporate knowledge, training and learning;
Access to UNHCR mandatory learning programmes;
Inclusion of the volunteer in emergency procedures such as evacuations;
Leave management; DSA for official travel, when applicable;
All changes in the Description of Assignment occurring between recruitment and arrival or during the assignment need to be formalized with the United Nations Volunteer Programme.
Conditions of Service for national UN Volunteers
The National UN Volunteer receives a standard volunteer living allowance (VLA), which is intended to cover their accommodation and basic living expenses. In Hong Kong SAR China the VLA is 13,100 HKD per month. The National UN Volunteer is entitled to an excellent health, life and disability insurance package. A modest Settling-in Grant and end of assignment allowance will also be provided, along with travel to and from the duty station. International travel to duty station will not covered by UNV. The National UN Volunteer is entitled to 2.5 days personal leave per month and government official holidays.
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
This UNV assignment is subject to proof of vaccination against Covid-19 with WHO approved vaccine, unless the UNHCR Medical Service approves an exemption from this requirement on medical grounds
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