Sustainable Development Networking Programme

Indigenous Fellowship Programme for the Year 2001

 

Application form

 
The aim of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights' Indigenous Fellowship Programme is to give indigenous persons 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 organisations and communities in protecting and promoting the human rights of their people. 

The Indigenous Fellowship Programme for 2001 runs from 1 June to 30 November. 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 six months.  They will also have the opportunity to establish contacts with other inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations. After an introduction to relevant Geneva based bodies and human rights instruments and procedures, the Fellows have the opportunity to gain practical experience about OHCHR and its work with human rights through their practical work as part of the Indigenous Project Team at OHCHR. 

It is expected that each Fellow at the end of the Programme 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. 

Four Fellowships will be awarded for 2001 including the following: 

a) An economy class air ticket from the country of residence to Geneva (return). 

b) Modest accommodation in Geneva for the duration of the Programme. 

c) Health insurance for the duration of the Programme. 

d) A monthly grant to cover other living expenses in Geneva. 

e) A language course of English in the home country, if necessary. 
 

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. Indigenous community background and link should be regarded as favourable. 

5. The Fellows should have a basic understanding of the English language. 
 

The sponsoring organization/community:

6. 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. 

7. 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; 

9. The general human rights situation in the respective regions/countries should be taken into consideration in the selection process; 

10. In accordance with the general practice of the United Nations, selection of Fellows should reflect a gender balance; 

11. Selection of alternates - eight alternates should be selected in the event that any of the first four preferences will not be available for the Fellowship period. Four alternates should be selected as first, second, third and fourth preferences in the event that any of the four first preferences will not be available. The remaining four alternates could be ungrouped. 
 

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 8 SEPTEMBER 2000.
 

Fellowship applications (application form) or any questions pertaining to the Indigenous Fellowship Programme should be addressed to: 

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 
Indigenous Project Team 
Research and Right to Development Branch 
Palais des Nations 
CH-1211 Geneva 10 
Switzerland 

Telephone number: + 41-22-9179190/9179272 
Telefax number: +41-22-9179010