AMERICAS: Call for Applications for the Fellowship at the IACHR Unit for the Rights of Lasbians, Gays, and Trans, Bisexual and Intersex Persons 2012

1) Venue of Fellowship: Executive Secretariat of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) of the Organization of American States (OAS).  Address:  1889 F Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20006, United States of America

2)  Modality:  On-site

3)  Deadline to present applications:  January 9, 2012 

4)  Start and End Dates:  February 15 to December 31, 2012

5)  Length of the Fellowship:  10 ½ (ten and one-half) months 

6) Objective:  To provide an opportunity for young lawyers from OAS Member States to understand and apply the mechanisms of protection of the inter-American system of human rights in the area of the rights of lesbians, gays, and trans, bisexual and intersex persons.

7) Programme:  To assist with tasks of the Unit for the rights of lesbians, gays, and trans, bisexual and intersex persons of the Inter-American Commission, under the supervision of its human rights specialists during the period of the fellowship and, at the end of the fellowship, present to the Executive Secretariat of the IACHR a detailed report on activities carried out by the fellow.

8)  Requirements: 

• Be a citizen of an OAS Member State; 

• Be bilingual in Spanish and English (attach certificates testifying thereto), knowledge of French or Portuguese desirable;

• Have graduated in law from an officially recognised university (attach copy of the law degree and grades obtained);

• Have received law degree after January 1, 2004;

• Have a demonstrable professional interest in the legal field of human rights, specifically in the area of the rights of lesbians, gays, and trans, bisexual and intersex persons;

• Be registered as an attorney before the courts or the appropriate professional body; in the absence of registration, indicate the reason; and

• Presenting a paper of up to five pages, not edited by another person, on a human rights issue of interest to the candidate in the area of the rights of lesbians, gays, and trans, bisexual and intersex persons, with an approach that takes into account cultural diversity.

9)  Required documents: The following documents are required in order to be considered for the fellowship:

• Letter of interest
• Completed Fellowship Application (LINK)
• Two letters of recommendation
• Curriculum vitae
• Certification of second language
• Copy of law degree and grades obtained
• Proof of registration as an attorney before the courts or the appropriate professional body, or the absence of registration, indicate the reason
• Written paper of up to five pages

10)  Benefits:

• The IACHR provides a monthly stipend of US$2,800.00 for the period covered by the fellowship, that is US$29,400.00 total for 10½ months. With the stipend provided, the fellow is responsible for obtaining health insurance coverage of his/her choosing for the duration of the fellowship, and should provide proof of coverage to the Executive Secretariat of the IACHR.

• Round-trip economy class air transportation from the participant’s country of residence to Washington, D.C. Terminal and transfer expenses are not covered.

• The IACHR will award a certificate of participation in the Fellowship Programme to the fellows who satisfactorily complete the entire period of the fellowship. 

11)  Responsibilities of the selected candidates:

• Once an applicant has been selected, he/she should formally accept the fellowship in writing, confirming with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights his/her availability to complete the fellowship during the specified time period. Once accepted, the IACHR will proceed with the necessary arrangements for purchase of round-trip economy air transportation between the candidate’s country of origin/residence and Washington, D.C. 

• In the event a candidate accepts a fellowship but cannot complete it, for whatever reason, he/she must immediately inform the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights so that the course of action may be decided.

• It is the responsibility of each selected candidate to request and obtain the necessary visa to enter the United States, and/or transit visa (if applicable) in a timely manner.  The IACHR will not incur in any expense related to the processing of immigration or visa documents. The IACHR will provide the candidate a document certifying his/her selection as an official fellow of the IACHR so that he/she may request the corresponding visa, which is the sole responsibility of the selected candidate. In addition, the OAS will send a diplomatic note to the Embassy or Consulate where the selected candidate will be requesting his/her visa, certifying the fellow’s selection.

• It is the responsibility of the selected candidate to arrive in a timely manner so that he/she will be present for the commencement of the fellowship on the date established by the IACHR.

• If the selected candidate declines the fellowship after the flight ticket has been purchased, or does not travel on the established dates or changes routes, the candidate shall reimburse the IACHR the cost of the flight ticket or any additional costs incurred. The latter includes any additional costs, if any, incurred by the IACHR, such as extra costs for accommodation during the candidate’s travel to and from Washington, D.C.

• If the candidate resigns, cancels or terminates the fellowship after the programme has begun without providing sufficient reason and evidence to the IACHR for doing so, he/she will fully reimburse the IACHR for all costs incurred on his/her behalf.

12)  Presentation of candidates:

The application and other required documents indicated in sections 8 and 9 must be submitted to the Executive Secretariat of the IACHR prior to the closing date of the application period, by email, fax or mail:

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
1889 F Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C., 20006
U.S.A.[email protected]
Telephone: 202-458-6002
Fax: 202-458-3992