The UNHCR Sub-Office (Hong Kong) offers a qualified individual an opportunity to undertake voluntary work for the United Nations Refugee Agency to gain knowledge and practical experience in refugee protection and solutions. The Protection Fellow will work in a dynamic environment and be provided with training and support to develop expertise and practical experience in the area of refugee and human rights law.
Please note that this is a VOLUNTARY position and does NOT offer any financial compensation (including stipends or allowances). Medical insurance will be covered by UNHCR.
Duties and Responsibilities: The Protection Fellow will work directly with the UNHCR Protection Unit, under guidance and supervision of the Senior Protection Associate and Head of Sub-Office (Hong Kong). Responsibilities will include:
Assist in the review and drafting of Unified Screening Mechanism (USM) referrals;
Conduct legal and case research;
Assist in the drafting and development of resettlement paperwork including Resettlement Registration Forms (RRFs);
Provide support in the protection and solutions review of refugees and persons under UNHCR’s mandate;
Provide administrative and case management support to the Protection Unit, including the organization of physical and electronic case files;
And undertake project work and other duties as required.
Person specification:
Undergraduate or postgraduate degree in law, social sciences, international relations or other relevant subjects
Full proficiency in English, knowledge of Cantonese and Mandarin is a plus
Ability to work in a small team, sometimes with limited supervision
Excellent drafting and analytical skills
Reliability in keeping deadlines and delivering a high quality of work
Strong organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously
Strong attention to detail
Adaptability and flexibility, willing to take on new tasks and adjust to changing priorities
Proactive and self-motivated, demonstrating initiative and a willingness to learn and improve
Cultural sensitivity and awareness, respecting diverse backgrounds and perspectives
Knowledge of international human rights and refugee law is a plus
Experience working with displaced populations is a plus
Background information/Organizational Context:
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 co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country.
In more than five decades, the agency has helped an estimated 50 million people restart their lives. From only 34 staff members when UNHCR was founded, UNHCR now has more than 18,879 staff, 87 per cent of whom are based in the field,. The agency works in 135 countries.
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 on 3 March 2014 commenced its Unified Screening Mechanism (USM) 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. Persons who indicate that they will face the risk of persecution upon return to their country of origin and/or those who filed a claim under the USM will continue to be considered as Persons with and for whom UNHCR works until a final determination of persecution risk is reached under the USM.
Despite UNHCR’s changing role in Hong Kong, it will continue working with all stakeholders to ensure people with and for whom UNHCR works receive adequate protection and assistance as well as to seek durable solutions for refugees.
Bachelor of Science (BS): Law, Bachelor of Science (BS): Social Science, Masters of Arts (MA): Social Science, Masters of Science (MS): Law
Certifications
Work Experience
Administration, Case Management: Refugees, Durable Solutions, Protection, Working with Persons of Concern: Others of Concern, Working with Persons of Concern: Refugees
Other Information
This position doesn't require a functional clearance
Home-Based
No
Seniority level
Internship
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
Research, Analyst, and Information Technology
Industries
International Affairs
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