ThaiNGO

Who We Are

The Manushya Foundation: Empowering Communities; Advancing Social Justice. “Manushya” is a Sanskrit term being understood by many communities across Asia and in the world, meaning “humans”, “human being”, or even “human rights” (such as manusia in Bahasa or Malay).

Through the closing of UPR Info Asia, a new foundation was born, the Manushya Foundation: an Asian regional foundation for Asian communities by Asian communities, promoting Community Empowerment to advance Social Justice & Democratic Participation, aiming at improving the human rights situation on the ground in Asia, leaving no one behind. The Manushya Foundation was indeed born as a result of an impressive community empowerment and ownership of the human rights situation by the Thai CSOs Coalition for the UPR in Thailand. Inspired by Thailand, local voices across Asia have reached out to members of the Thai CSOs Coalition for inspiration and good practices. As a result, the Manushya Foundation will work closely with the Thai CSOs Coalition to influence, inspire and work with Asian communities in order to enable them to own the human rights situation in their countries and be at the centre of the human rights response. The Manushya Foundation aims at connecting Humans across Asia to build capacities, share experiences, strengthen solidarity and become agents of change.

Responding to shrinking civic space by accessing UN Human Rights Mechanisms and developing credible evidence: the Manushya Foundation focuses its work in countries where civic space is shrinking to support communities accessing justice through UN human rights mechanisms (UPR, treaty bodies and special procedures). The foundation will ensure an equal and inclusive participation of communities across Asia so that they can effectively hold their government to account, while building credible evidence to investigate and monitor the human rights situation, and ultimately advance human rights. The Manushya Foundation will work towards “Engaging, Mobilising and Empowering” local voices to build human rights movements to be at the centre of the human rights situation and become the agents of change in their countries.

Manushya Foundation’s strategy lies on three pillars:

1. ENGAGE communities by building their capacities on all UN human rights mechanisms to ensure their effective participation, and by providing them with the tools to efficiently build credible evidence and monitor the human rights situation on the ground (human rights documentation) to hold their government accountable on their human rights obligations.
2. MOBILISE communities around human rights movements, by building CSOs coalitions comprising all human rights issues, where communities are treated equally and can build solidarity and where all human rights are equal (civil and political rights as well as economic, social and cultural rights).
3. EMPOWER communities by ensuring they are at the center of the human rights response in their countries, engaging constructively and providing solutions to their government to improve the human rights on the ground. By applying a bottom-up approach, communities will own their issues, provide solutions and become the agents of change in their countries. Communities will bring back solutions at the local level to further empower their peers, ensuring no one is left behind.

The Manushya Foundation is a small NGO, with the advantages and constraints attached. Every staff member plays an important role and carries responsibilities. Dedication is key as it greatly impacts the work of the organisation. It is therefore necessary to embrace the vision and goals of the organisation and fully commit to its success.

Our Internship Programme

The Manushya Foundation offers the opportunity to interns to develop a unique experience of supporting local communities to access justice through UN human rights mechanisms and in improving the human rights situation on the ground. 

1) Description of Duties & Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Executive Director and the Research & Advocacy Team members, the intern would be based with the Manushya Foundation, in Bangkok, Thailand, and would primarily support communications about activities to be implemented in Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia and Nepal. The intern will undertake the following tasks:

• Develop and disseminate web-stories, articles, multimedia; blog posts and knowledge
  products and resources amongst human rights organizations, civil society, development
  organisations, and the diplomatic community;
• Assist in writing press releases;
• Social Media Management: assist in developing social media content (Facebook, Twitter,
  Google+, etc.), garner users to follow/like for Manushya Foundation;
• Update the website as necessary to build Manushya Foundation’s web presence (knowledge of wix is critical);
• Develop the monthly newsletter on mailchimp;
• Manage contacts on salesforce;
• Establish presence on LinkedIn and begin engaging influencers;
• Copy editing of papers and reports;
• Conduct research and analysis on the human rights situation in Asia;
• Support the development of concept notes, policy papers, and contribute to knowledge
  products as necessary;
• Support all aspects leading up to consultations and workshops including collaborating with
  regional and national partners on the agenda and organisation of meetings, among other
  administrative tasks;
• Assist in any other relevant tasks as assigned by the supervisor.

Finally, s/he will be deeply involved in the implementation of international human rights obligations on the ground and experience a first-hand insight into the work and functioning of a small NGO.

2) Profile needed

• Degree in communications, development, human rights, international relations, or any related
  field;
• Interest in international human rights mechanisms and the United Nations system;
• Experience in communications, social media, and/or web development;
• Strong analytical skills and dedication;
• Very good command of oral and written English;
• Experience working on human rights issues is a strong asset.

3) Internship conditions

The internship is full time for a period of three to six months. The internship is not paid. However, the internship can develop into a volunteer position, which would be remunerated.

4) How to apply?

Please send CV and cover letter to: contact@manushyafoundation.org

Deadline is 10 September 2018.

Contact : contact@manushyafoundation.org

5)  Our Social Media: 

Website:   https://www.manushyafoundation.org/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ManushyaFdn/ 

Twitter:     https://twitter.com/ManushyaFdn

LinkedIN:   https://www.linkedin.com/company/manushyafoundation/