HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER

This post is located in the Rule of Law, Accountability and Civic Space (RACS 1), Special Procedures (SP), Thematic and Special Procedures Division (TSP) in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The incumbent will work as Secretary of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, under the general supervision of the Chief of Special Procedures, and under the direct supervision of the Chief of the Special Procedures, Rule of Law, Accountability and Civic Space (RACS1) Section.

Responsibilities

- Lead and coordinate the monitoring of the implementation of human rights and international humanitarian law and ensure appropriate follow-up on recommendations from human rights mechanisms, including treaty bodies, the UPR, special procedures and investigative findings, to support compliance with human rights and advance accountability. - Coordinate and manage the collection, documentation, and quality control of evidence-based information on civil, cultural, economic, social and/or political rights, including the right to development, to support early warning, accountability and informed decision-making, identifying gaps and ensuring the proper handling and sharing of human rights data, including from gender and leave no one behind perspectives. - Lead the coordination and conduct of human rights monitoring and field verification missions, including assessments and early-warning exercises, in accordance with UN methodology, gender indicators and victim/witness protection standards, and ensure comprehensive reporting on findings and recommendations. - Coordinate and lead fact-finding or investigative missions to document violations of international humanitarian law, including in a situation where applicable, and ensuring technical adherence to victim and witness protection standards and managing cross-component collaboration as necessary. - Lead and coordinate the production and substantive review of human rights reports, briefings and other communications, with legal analysis as appropriate, and prepare analytical papers to inform strategies, policies, programmes to advance policy, programming and decision-making processes, with attention to gender integration and leave-no-one-behind perspectives. - Lead and conduct collection, verification and analysis of multi-source information relevant to the human rights thematic and/or country-specific situation, ensuring data quality and methodological compliance, including gender perspective, and ensuring confidentiality and integrity as required. - Lead the provision of substantive advice and technical guidance to national and/or regional counterparts to strengthen their human rights systems, institutions and frameworks, including media of reports, complaint mechanisms, victim and witness support services, and engagement with human rights mechanisms. - Advise UN leadership and UN partners on the integration of human rights into protection, rule of law, economic policy, transitional justice and accountability. - Lead and coordinate substantive support to treaty bodies, special procedures, the UPR and/or commissions of inquiry; manage and coordinate efficient and effective delivery of the work programme, including administrative tasks, and ensure that appropriate support is provided. - Manage and coordinate fund raising and resource mobilization activities to support the work of the Office, including planning initiatives, and providing support to the implementation of assigned areas of responsibility. - Collect and analyze data to identify trends and provide insights through structural charts, tables, and data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decisions, presentations and reporting. - Perform other duties as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of human rights, international humanitarian law and standards. Experience in human rights monitoring, documentation, analysis and reporting, and legal analysis. Knowledge of national and regional responsibilities. Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals consistent with agreed strategies, identifies priority activities, adjusts priorities as required, allocates appropriate time and resources, and monitors progress. Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues, genuinely values others, and supports final decisions. Leadership: Ability to lead and manage teams, ensure deadlines and deliver results. Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided, and can identify their needs and meet them.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in human rights, law, political science, international relations, social sciences, economics, public policy, sustainable development, humanitarian affairs or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, international relations, law, humanitarian affairs, political affairs, public affairs, or related area is required. Experience in the monitoring and analysis of human rights is required. Knowledge of human rights documentation methods and report drafting is required. Experience in the application of human rights in humanitarian settings is desirable. Knowledge of data analysis, presentation, and project management is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. French or Spanish is desirable. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).

Required Languages: Language Reading Writing Listening Speaking

• English UN Level III UN Level III UN Level III UN Level III

Desirable Languages: Language Reading Writing Listening Speaking

• French UN Level I UN Level I UN Level I UN Level I
• Spanish UN Level I UN Level I UN Level I UN Level I

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed serious crimes of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment, or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct is taken into account. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic may not be considered. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff with the exceptional and the mission. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities that may be required in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Staff members in the professional category and above are normally required to move periodically to different duty stations. Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, if applicable. We strongly encourage candidates from women to apply. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information provided in the application. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or other modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be then to be subject to reference checks. All external candidates recruited in accordance with the UN Charter are subject to an initial probationary period of one year.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.