Associate Human Rights Officer

Org. Setting and Reporting

• This position is located within United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) in the Protection of Civilian (POC) Unit situated in the Office of the DSRSG Operations and Protection, with duty station, Goma. The incumbent reports to the Senior Protection of Civilians Advisor.

Responsibilities

Under the authority of the DSRSG Operations and Protection and the direct supervision of the Senior Protection of Civilians Advisor, and within delegated authority, the Associate Human Rights Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Researches, collects, verifies, analyses and synthesizes significant amounts of information, including from open sources, of relevance to the protection of civilians (POC) and human rights in the designated mission area;
• Assists in liaising with appropriate local and national authorities, civil society, UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes with complementary mandates, and other relevant partners to monitor developments in the human rights situation;
• Together with the supervisor and protection of civilians’ officers, engages with the relevant authorities and other key stakeholders, including UNCT, in view of improving the protection of civilians and/or preventing or finding remedies for human rights violations;
• Supports in the development of initiatives to strengthen the response to systematic and/or emerging patterns of human rights violations and abuses;
• Drafts a variety of reports, briefings and other types of communications relating to the protection of civilians and human rights in compliance with established standards;
• Contributes to the formulation of recommendations and strategies to better address protection of civilians’ concerns and promote and protect human rights in the mission area;
• Supports the integration of human rights in humanitarian action through participating in emergency preparedness and response activities, including in the work of the Protection Working Group and other POC mechanisms, as appropriate;
• Works directly with other components/sections, including the police and military, to integrate human rights considerations in their respective activities including by preparing and delivering training on POC and International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law;
• Supports increasing the capacity of civil society and state authorities to protect civilians and their rights, including by supporting efforts to advance MONUSCO’s transition plan in relation to protection and human rights in cooperation with the supervisor and the protection of civilians’ team members ;
• Reviews human rights and civilian protection issues in the area of responsibility, including gender dimensions and develops strategies in cooperation with the supervisor and team members to resolve the problems;
• Performs other related duties as required.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent), preferably in law, political science, international relations or human rights related field. A first-level university degree (Bachelor or equivalent) with two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

• A minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in the protection of civilians, human rights, civil affairs, or a closely related field is required. Previous experience in protection monitoring and reporting and on/or in building capacity for the promotion and protection of civilians is required. Experience in analyzing large amounts of information, including from open sources is required. Experience providing services in the field of protection of civilians or in a field operation of the United Nations Common System or a comparable international organization is desirable.

Languages

• ‘English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position, fluency in French (oral and written) is required. Fluency in Lingala or Swahili is desirable. Fluency in English (oral and written) is desirable.

Source: https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/242468?language=en