01 Jun 2004

The deadline for applications is 27 August 2004

Fellowship Application

The aim of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights' Indigenous Fellowship Programme is to give indigenous women and men the opportunity to gain knowledge in the field of international human rights in general and on indigenous rights in particular in order to assist their organizations and communities in protecting and promoting the human rights of their people.

The Indigenous Fellowship Programme for 2005 will run from April to September. The Fellows will be based at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva, Switzerland for a period of five months. They will also have the opportunity to establish contacts with other inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations.

After an introduction to relevant Geneva based bodies and human rights instruments and procedures, the Fellows have the opportunity to gain practical experience with OHCHR and its work with human rights through their practical work as part of the Indigenous Project Team.

It is expected that each Fellow at the end of the Programme will possess general knowledge about the overall United Nations system, and knowledge about the international human rights instruments and mechanisms, in particular those with relevance to indigenous peoples. Furthermore, each Fellow should also at the end of the Programme be capable of giving training within their communities and organizations in the fields of international human rights in general, and on indigenous peoples rights in particular, and be able to disseminate the information and knowledge gained during the Fellowship Programme.

Five Fellowships will be awarded for 2005 including the following:

1. An economy class air ticket from the country of residence to Geneva(return).
2. Modest accommodation in Geneva for the duration of the Programme.
3. Health insurance for the duration of the Programme.
4. A monthly grant to cover other living expenses in Geneva.

Selection process and criteria:

The final selection of successful candidates will be made by the consultative group for the Indigenous fellowship programme, which is composed of indigenous persons. In view of the large number of applications, we regret that only successful candidates will be contacted.

The Advisory Group of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People has adopted the following guidelines and general criteria pertaining to the selection of candidates for the Indigenous Fellowship Programme:

The individual candidate:

1. Age should not be a limitation to participation in the Fellowship Programme, although preference should be given to candidates in the age-bracket 25 - 35 years.
2. Formal education should not be a limitation to participation in the Fellowship Programme given the socio-economic barriers confronted by many indigenous peoples that limit access to formal educational institutions.
3. Candidates should have ability and willingness to train other indigenous persons after the return to their respective communities/organizations.
4. The candidate should be supported by their indigenous community or organization.
5. The Fellows should have a basic understanding of the English language.

The sponsoring organization/community:

1. The overall goal of the Programme is to give indigenous persons the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills in the field of international human rights in order to assist their organizations and communities in protecting and promoting the human rights of their people. Therefore, it is important that the candidate is proposed and nominated by an indigenous organization or community.
2. It is desirable that the sponsoring organization has a firm constituency or membership and that it is representative.

Other guidelines and criteria: 8. The selection of fellows should reflect a regional balance.

1. The general human rights situation in the respective regions/countries should be taken into consideration in the selection process.
2. In accordance with the general practice of the United Nations,selection of Fellows should reflect a gender balance.
3. Ten alternates should be selected in the event that any of the first five preferences will not be available for the Fellowship period. Five alternates should be selected as first, second, third, fourth and fifth preferences in the event that any of the five first preferences will not be available. The remaining five alternates could be ungrouped.

Fellowship applications will only be taken into consideration if theyare fully completed. Fellowship applications must be faxed or sent by regular post. E-mailed applications will not be taken into consideration.

Fellowship applications or any questions pertaining to the Indigenous Fellowship Programme should be addressed to

:

Indigenous Project Team

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

UNOG-OHCHR CH-1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland

Telephone number: (+ 41 22) 9179434 or 917 9272

Telefax number: (+41 22) 917 9010

E-mail: fellowship_prog@ohchr.org

Deadline for applications: 27 August 2004