Human Rights Officer

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Africa Branch, Field Operations and Technical Cooperation Division (FOTCD), of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Geneva. The incumbent will operate under the overall guidance (and direct supervision in relation to the Special Assistant functions specified below) of the Chief of the Africa Branch and direct supervision of the Chief of the Africa Section I.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Human Rights Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Plans and coordinates activities related to thematic and country mandates on human rights, including in the preparation and conduct of field missions and the drafting of timely reports in relation to the country or region of assignment.
• Conducts substantive research and analysis of human rights issues/events and assesses their impact on the human rights situation in assigned region or country.
• Collects and analyses human rights data and indicators in country/region of assignment, including gender-specific data and indicators.
• Provides support to sub-commissions, commissions and other bodies; follows-up on implementation of decisions rendered by policy-making bodies.
• Ensures human rights issues, including their gender equality considerations, are integrated into political, humanitarian and economic efforts and programme.
• Defines work plan for area assigned in accordance with established terms of reference.
• Represents UN human rights programme at working level meetings.
• Supports capacity-building efforts on human rights in region/country of assignment.
• Writes a variety of reports, communications, briefings, statements, etc., including to policy-making bodies.
• Provides support to the Chief of Branch by ensuring coherent and coordinated planning, development, implementation and reporting on Strategic Management Plans and Branch work-plans, and other relevant frameworks.
• Serves as the Branch’s focal point for Office-wide programme planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation processes; coordinates and consolidates the Branch’s inputs to various processes;
• Performs other related duties as required.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in human rights, law, political science, international relations, social sciences or related field. 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.

Work Experience

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, political affairs, international relations, law or related area is required. Experience in human rights monitoring and reporting is desirable. Experience in strategic planning, programme management and/or results-based programming is desirable. Experience in human rights technical cooperation and advisory services is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is also desirable is an advantage.

Source: https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/243908?language=en