Human Rights Officer

The Human Rights Officer is responsible for early warning and prevention analysis, emergency response capacity, monitoring implementation of human rights instruments, research and analysis of emerging human rights concerns, and coordination with UN and non-governmental programmes in the East and Southern Africa region. The role involves leadership, capacity building, and integration of human rights in humanitarian and development contexts.

Responsibilities

• Acts as early warning and prevention team lead; develops and carries out appropriate early warning analysis, identifies preventative measures to address human rights protection needs through remote monitoring or in country missions; feeds in analysis to global prevention processes, i.e. RMRs and UNOCC, in coordination with relevant Sections; establishes and nurtures partnerships with relevant early warning systems in the region.
• Acts as emergency response capacity to be rapidly deployed and to provide immediate start-up capacity in relation to human rights and humanitarian emergencies.
• Reviews, monitors and evaluates activities relating to the implementation of international human rights instruments, including recommendations of treaty bodies and mechanisms of the Human Rights Council.
• Researches, collects and analyses information and documentation pertaining to emerging human rights concerns.
• In coordination with the Information Management Officer, finalises products to present analysis in visually compelling and easily digestible formats.
• Guides and oversees the development of analytical human rights information products to support OHCHR’s work on early warning/prevention and humanitarian action.
• Prepares relevant human rights parts of reports for the General Assembly, HRC, etc., and notes on the status of ratification of human rights instruments, etc.
• Serves as team leader with responsibility for carrying out, in consultation with the Regional Director or his/her designate, work coordination and administrative functions relating to the staff, planning and budget on the subject matters of responsibility.
• Actively contributes to the community of practice of the regional Emergency Response Teams, the Crisis Preparedness and Response Section and other relevant Sections.
• Works with UN and non-governmental programmes, and supports Country Leads in their work in the country/region to integrate human rights, including their gender dimensions, in their programmes; helps integrate human rights in humanitarian and development analysis, planning and responses.
• Ensures up-to-date information regarding substantive matters in the field of human rights and makes recommendations on actions to take.
• Makes contact with other sectors of the UN, other international organizations and governments on coordination and policy matters; briefs representatives and provides, as appropriate, suggestions and recommendations, in coordination with the Regional Director and/or Country Leads in the region.
• Assists and build capacity and awareness of national (including governments and NHRIs) and international partners on the protection of human rights in humanitarian emergencies.
• Trains and supervises new/junior staff.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Requirements

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in 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.
• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, political affairs, international relations, law or related area is required.
• Field experience with the United Nation Common system or similar organization in an emergency or humanitarian setting is desirable.
• Experience in conflict or post-conflict settings is desirable.
• A minimum of one year of demonstrated experience of coordinating a human rights programme with a focus on information management component is required.
• Work experience on human rights risk analysis and prevention and/or strategic foresight is required.
• English and French are required at UN Level III for reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

Skills

• Human Rights Monitoring
• Human Rights Analysis
• Human Rights Programme Coordination
• Information Management
• Emergency Response
• Conflict Analysis
• Post Conflict Recovery
• Strategic Foresight
• Research and Analysis
• Capacity Building
• International Relations
• Legal Analysis
• Political Affairs
• Humanitarian Experience
• UN Common System Experience
• Early Warning Analysis
• International Human Rights Instruments
• Program Coordination

Languages

English, French