Translation/transliteration of text from Sinhala to English

Host entity: OHCHR

Application deadline: 17/09/2026

Mission and objectives

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is the Secretariat Department responsible for strengthening international human rights mechanisms; enhancing equality and countering discrimination; combating impunity and strengthening accountability and the rule of law; integrating human rights in development and in the economic sphere; widening the democratic space; and early warning and protection of human rights in situations of conflict, violence and insecurity.

Assignment context

In its resolution 46/1 on "Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka", adopted on 23 March 2021, the Human Rights Council recognized "the importance of preserving and analysing evidence relating to violations and abuses of human rights and related crimes in Sri Lanka with a view to advancing accountability", and decided to strengthen the capacity of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) “to collect, consolidate, analyse and preserve information and evidence and to develop possible strategies for future accountability processes for gross violations of human rights or serious violations of international humanitarian law in Sri Lanka, to advocate for victims and survivors, and to support relevant judicial and other proceedings, including in Member States, with competent jurisdiction.”

In October 2022, through resolution A/HRC/RES/51/1, the Human Rights Council extended and reinforced the capacity of OHCHR in this regard. In October 2025, through resolution A/HRC/RES/60/1, the Council extended the mandate of the Office of the High Commissioner and all work requested of it in resolution A/HRC/RES/51/1, and requested the Office to present a written update at its 63rd session (September-October 2026), and a comprehensive report on progress in reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka at its 66th session (September-October 2027), to be discussed during an interactive dialogue.

Resolution 51/1 adopted by the Human Rights Council on 6 October 2022 - Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka. (A/HRC/RES/51/1).

Task description

We are seeking one Online Volunteer to support the translation and transliteration of selected extracts from Sinhala-language documents related to human rights into English.

This assignment forms part of a broader body of work being developed on human rights in Sri Lanka. The Online Volunteer will be asked to:

1. Review Sinhala-language documents to identify and extract relevant information online.
2. Translate selected excerpts of documents from Sinhala into English.
3. Transliterate details from Sinhala into English, where required.
4. Ensure that translations and transliterations are accurate, faithful to the original, concise, and consistent with OHCHR formatting, terminology, and existing data protection requirements.
5. Conduct quality assurance reviews of translations completed by other contributors, as requested.
6. Communicate regularly with the project lead and promptly flag any issues, inconsistencies, or concerns requiring attention.
7. Handle all information in strict confidence and in accordance with applicable United Nations rules, regulations, policies, and procedures relating to information security, confidentiality, and data protection and OHCHR victim protection standards.

The work will be conducted online and the Online Volunteer will receive detailed guidance on the context of the assignment, relevant terminology, and formatting requirements. Ongoing support and additional guidance will be provided throughout the assignment as needed.

Through this assignment, the Online Volunteer will have the opportunity to collaborate with OHCHR and gain insight into how language support contributes to human rights documentation, analysis, and victim-centered accountability efforts.

The volunteer will also have the opportunity to strengthen their translation skills and enhance their knowledge of human rights terminology.

Skills and experience

Candidates should be native in Sinhalese and fluent in English. Knowledge of Tamil will be considered an asset.
Familiarity with technical terms related to human rights will be considered an advantage. Previous translation experience is considered an asset.
Prior experience in managing confidential materials is essential.

Full eligibility requirements, conditions of service and application instructions are available on the official UNV platform.