Human Rights Officer

The Human Rights Officer supports human rights promotion and protection in southern Africa, focusing on mainstreaming human rights in development, developing country engagement strategies, and providing thematic expertise and advice. The role involves technical assistance, programme design and implementation, training, capacity building, and advocacy to advance human rights.

Responsibilities

• Conduct substantive monitoring of the implementation of human rights and international humanitarian law and follow up on recommendations from human rights mechanisms to ensure compliance and advance accountability.
• Collect, document and analyse evidence-based information on civil, cultural, economic, social and/or political rights to enable analysis, early warning and response, accountability and informed decision-making.
• Draft, review and disseminate human rights reports, briefings and other communications, with legal analysis as appropriate.
• Undertake analysis and prepare analytical papers to inform human rights strategies, crisis management, prevention and response policies, programmes and other decision-making processes.
• Provide advisory and substantive support to national and/or regional counterparts to strengthen their human rights systems, institutions and frameworks.
• Design and deliver human rights capacity-building programmes for State institutions, security forces, NHRIs, civil society and other stakeholders.
• Contribute substantively to human rights mainstreaming efforts, supporting the integration of human rights norms and standards into political, peace and security, humanitarian, development and economic frameworks and processes.
• Contribute to research, analysis, guidance and policy advice on human rights issues in the context of economic policy and sustainable development.
• Engage substantively in the Office’s partnership-building activities.
• Deliver training programmes and workshops using various platforms for different audiences to enhance the capacity of UN staff and partners.

Requirements

• An 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 experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in human rights or related areas is required.
• Relevant experience may include political affairs, public affairs, international relations, law, social sciences, economics, development, humanitarian affairs, or other related areas.
• Critical thinking skills are required.
• Knowledge of international human rights law, norms, and standards is required.
• Ability to build and maintain partnerships is required.
• Skills in designing, delivering, and evaluating capacity-building and training programmes is desirable.
• Programme management skills is desirable.
• English language proficiency at UN Level II is required.
• French language proficiency at UN Level I is desirable.

Skills

• International Human Rights Law
• Human Rights Promotion
• Human Rights Protection
• Political Affairs
• Public Affairs
• International Relations
• Social Sciences
• Economics
• Development
• Humanitarian Affairs
• Critical Thinking
• Partnership Building
• Capacity Building
• Training Programme Design
• Training Programme Delivery
• Training Program Evaluation
• Programme Management

Languages

English, French