Beca
  1. Modality: Virtual.
  2. Duration of fellowship:: 11 months
  3. Start and End Dates:: May 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024, subject to change.
  4. Deadline for applications: 28 April 2023 at 17:30 (EST), subject to change.
  5. Objective: Offer Afro-descendant professionals in the areas of Law, Political Science, International Relations, and other Social Sciences, from OAS Member States, the opportunity to learn about and apply the protection mechanisms of the Inter-American Human Rights System in the area of the rights of Afro-descendants and the elimination of racial discrimination.
  6. Program: The fellow will support the work of the Rapporteurship on the Rights of Afro-descendants and against Racial Discrimination of the ES/IACHR, under the supervision of specialists and area coordination during the period of the fellowship; At the conclusion of the fellowship, she/he/they will submit to the SE/IACHR a detailed report on the activities carried out. The fellowship is subject to the availability of funding.
  7. Expected Results:
    • Monitoring the situation of the rights of Afro-descendants and against racial discrimination in the region.
    • Collaboration with the team of the Rapporteurship on the Rights of Afro-descendants and against Racial Discrimination of the ES/IACHR in the preparation of thematic and country reports.
    • Research and analysis of information on the situation of the rights of Afro-descendants and against racial discrimination.
    • Preparation of documents for thematic hearings; working meetings and visits of the ES/IACHR.
    • Collaboration in initiatives aimed at promoting and disseminating the Inter-American Human Rights System and the Rapporteurship on the Rights of Afro-descendants and against racial discrimination.
    • Other assigned activities related to the purpose of the fellowship.
  8. Criteria:
    • Be a citizen of a Member State of the OAS.
    • Hold a professional degree in the areas of Law, Political Science, International Relations, or another Social Science, from an officially accredited university.
    • Have knowledge of at least 2 of the 4 official languages of the OAS (Spanish, English, French, Portuguese).
    • Have received the professional diploma within the last seven years;
    • Demonstrable professional and/or university experience in the area of human rights; preferably in the area of ethno-racial groups.
    • Have the necessary devices and technological services to work remotely, including a stable internet connection that allows video calls.
  9. Required Documents: The following documents are required for consideration of applications for this fellowship:
    • Cover letter from the interested person.
    • Two letters of recommendation (academic or professional).
    • Curriculum vitae.
    • Copy of professional degree.
    • Certificate accrediting the second language (if not available, attach an explanatory note).
    • Written work, up to 4 pages, not edited by another person, on a topic in the field of human rights of Afro-descendants and against racial discrimination that is of interest to the applicant. The written work may be submitted in Spanish, English, Portuguese, or French (no cover page or bibliography is required).

Note: All documents required for the fellowship can be submitted in Spanish, English, French, or Portuguese. Only simple copies of the original documents are required; they do not need to be translated or legalized.

Letters should be addressed in general to the INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS.

Subject to the discretion of the IACHR, finalists will be asked to answer additional questions and have an interview with the Executive Secretariat team.

  1. Benefits:
    • The SE/IACHR provides a stipend of US $3,200.00 per month for the duration of the fellowship. With said stipend, the fellowship recipient is responsible for and required to purchase health coverage of his/her choice for the duration of the fellowship and must formally prove said purchase to the Executive Secretariat of the IACHR.
    • The ES/IACHR will award a certificate of participation in the fellowship program to those who successfully complete the full duration of the fellowship.
    • The fellowship recipient may participate in person in one of the SE/IACHR's promotional activities, depending on the availability of resources.
  2. Responsibilities of the person selected to begin the fellowship: :
    • The selected person must formally accept the fellowship in writing to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, confirming his/her/their complete availability to begin the fellowship work remotely, with full dedication. Depending on future possibilities, the person will be required to travel to the IACHR headquarters to complete the fellowship period.
    • In the event that the fellowship has been accepted, but for any justifiable reason cannot be completed, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights must be notified immediately so that it can decide on the appropriate actions to be taken and make the necessary arrangements.
    • It is the responsibility of the person selected to have the necessary technological means to begin the fellowship remotely on the date established by the IACHR.
    • In case of resignation, cancellation or termination of the fellowship after the program has begun, without presenting sufficient evidence of the cause to the SE/IACHR, the SE/IACHR must be reimbursed in full for all expenses incurred on his/her/their behalf.

IACHR is fully committed to equal employment opportunities, based on individual merit, without discrimination to any applicant based on ethnic-racial origin, disability, marital status, family status, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, sex characteristics, among others.

The results from the selection will be informed by e-mail to each applicant before the start date of the fellowship. Any questions can be addressed to: [email protected]

The Organization of American States does not discriminate against any person on the basis of racial or ethnic origin, marital status, religion, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, sexual characteristics, or status as a parent.