1. Term/Duration

1.1. The fellowship term will be 12 months, with no possibility of extension.

2. Start date

2.1. Tentative start date: May 1, 2022. Start date may be postponed depending on the duration of the selection process.

3. Work modality

3.1. The modality of work is initially home based. However, when OAS offices reopen, fellow may be required to perform fellowship activities in Washington, DC, at the Executive Secretariat of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (ES/IACHR) of the Organization of American States (OAS). Address: 1889 F Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20006, United States of America. The transition between teleworking and on-site work will be defined in advance by mutual agreement between the fellow and the IACHR.

4. Duties and activities:

4.1. Under direct supervision of the Monitoring Section 3 of the ES/IACHR, the fellow will be responsible for the following duties:

5. Requirements:

a) 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 .

b) Make a commitment to return to the country of origin upon completion of the fellowship (if applicable).

c) Proficiency in English. Advanced/Proficiency in Spanish is a strong advantage. Knowledge of Portuguese or French is considered an advantage.

d) Degree in law from an officially recognized university (attach copy).

e) Law degree issued within the past 7 (seven) years.

f) Professional or educational experience in human rights.

6. Benefits:

6.1. The Fellowship provides a monthly stipend of US$ 3,200.00 (three thousand two hundred US dollar 00/100) for the complete fellowship term. With this stipend, the Fellowship holder is responsible for acquiring health coverage of their choice during the entire period of the Fellowship, and the said acquisition must be formally accredited.

6.2. The fellow will be responsible for any costs or additional tax to those that take place in their country of origin, as well as bank fees for the transfer of funds.

6.3. In the event the fellow is required to work on-site, the IACHR will provide roundtrip tickets by air in economy class from the place of residence to Washington, DC. No funds will be provided for terminal and transit costs.

6.4. The Commission will grant a certificate of participation in the program to the fellow that successfully complete the full term of the Fellowship.

7. Fellow's responsibilities:

7.1. The successful candidate must formally accept the Fellowship in writing, confirming their availability during the entire period and to work on-site, if applicable. Before the start of activities, the fellow will sign a term of commitment with the IACHR, and the rules provided in this term of reference are an integral part of the term of commitment.

7.2. If the selected person has accepted the Fellowship, but for imperative reasons cannot subsequently take part in the program, he/she must notify immediately the IACHR in writing so a decision can be made on appropriate measures.

7.3. In the event the fellow is required to work on-site, it is his/her responsibility to obtain in a timely manner the corresponding visa(s) to enter the United States of America and/or transit countries (if applicable).

7.4. The IACHR will not cover any expenses related to the processing of immigration documents or visas. However, the IACHR will extend a communication to the selected person certifying their selection as an official fellow of the IACHR to request the corresponding visa. Additionally, the OAS will extend a diplomatic note to the Embassy or Consulate where the selected person will apply for the visa, also certifying their selection.

7.5. In the event the fellow is required to work on-site, and he/she resigns the Fellowship after airline ticket is purchased or does not travel on the established dates or changes the route, he/she must reimburse the cost of the air ticket, or any other costs incurred by the IACHR.

7.6. If the fellow resigns or terminates the Fellowship after the program has started, without presenting sufficient evidence of the cause, the person must reimburse the IACHR for all the expenses incurred, including those pertaining to the monthly stipend. In addition, the person must communicate his/her resignation and termination of the terms in writing and at least with 10 days of anticipation.

8. Application and selection process

8.1. Applications must be received no later than Friday, Abril 14, 2022, by 6:00pm in Washington, DC, exclusively through this link.

8.2. Applications submitted by other means, incomplete applications and/or received after the deadline will not be considered.

8.3. The following documents are required for your application to be considered:

8.4. All documents required for the application may be submitted in either English or Spanish.

8.5. Only simple copies of the documents are required, and it is not necessary to legalize them (apostille, notary or any other).

8.6. Subject to discretion, applicants may be requested to supplement their application forms with additional information.

8.7. Applicants who meet the requirements will be evaluated according to subjective criteria and in accordance with the provisions of these Terms of Reference, particularly regarding desirable competencies and skills.

8.8. The IACHR will decide on a short list of applicants, of no more than 10, who shall be invited for an interview by videoconference to be held tentatively between 20 and 21 of Abril of 2022.

8.9. After the interviews, the selected person will be notified accordingly.

8.10. 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.

8.11. Decisions issued on these Terms of Reference are final.

9. Final provisions

9.1. The selection process may be canceled at the discretion of the IACHR at any time and without prior notice.

9.2. Inquiries and requests shall be sent by email to George Lima, Human Rights Specialist, at [email protected].