Associate Human Rights Officer

Contract

This is a NO-B contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 2 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be more than 3,669 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

Org. Setting and Reporting

These positions are located in Bangui and Bangassou within the Human Rights Division of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). These positions contribute to the mandate implementation of the mission and of OHCHR through the promotion and protection of human rights including undertaking human rights related research and analysis in relation to protection of civilians concerns; conducting human rights monitoring, reporting, and investigations of human rights and humanitarian law violations; support the organization on activities for building the capacity of State officials and of civil society and support component's provision of technical advice to national and local authorities to implement recommendations for compliance with human rights treaties; responsible for referral of individual cases to relevant UN or other international, national or local partner services; mainstream gender in all activities. As field office coordinators, duties may include the day-to-day supervision of more junior and local support staff.

Responsibilities

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

1. Researches, collects, verifies, analyses, and synthesizes significant amounts of information, including from open sources, of relevance to human rights in the designated mission area.
2. Participates in discussions with relevant authorities and other influential actors with a view to stop or prevent human rights violations, seek remedial action by the authorities and prevent similar violations from occurring in the future.
3. 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.
4. Monitors the national legal systems and their compliance with international human rights instruments, as well as the implementation of recommendations by UN human rights bodies.
5. Supports in the development of initiatives to strengthen the response to systematic and/or emerging patterns of human rights violations and abuses.
6. Participates in the investigations of human rights and international humanitarian law violations.
7. Drafts variety of reports, briefings and other types of communications relating to human rights matters in compliance with established standards.
8. Contributes to the formulation of meaningful recommendations and strategies to better promote and protect human rights in the mission area.
9. Contributes to the mainstreaming of human rights in the formulation and implementation of the UN peace mission and UN agency activities at country and local levels.
10. Supports the integration of human rights in humanitarian action through participating in emergency preparedness and response activities, including in the work of the Protection Cluster, as appropriate.
11. Works directly with other UN peace operation components/sections, including the police and military, to integrate human rights considerations in their respective activities.
12. Supports human rights capacity-building efforts for civil society and state authorities, including for aligning legislative and rule of law reforms with international human rights norms and for the State to meet international human rights law obligations.
13. Supports national authorities in their implementation of recommendations by UN Treaty Bodies, Special Procedures, and other mechanisms of the UN Human Rights Council. 14 Participates in the design, delivery, and evaluation of human rights training programmes for national officials, civil society representatives, human rights non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other national stakeholders in order to build national capacities.
14. Ensures the timely entry of accurate and verified cases of human rights violations into a database in compliance with established standards.
15. Contributes to the Integration of gender perspectives/considerations and specific women/girls' rights issues in all activities and to the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
16. Integrates UN developed methodology in the human rights monitoring, reporting and investigation activities.
17. Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Shows pride in work and achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others. Places team agenda before personal agenda. Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others, and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Tailors language, tone, style, and format to match the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, political science, international relations, social sciences, or in a related area. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in human rights or a closely related field is required.

Experience working with international human rights standards, instruments, and- mechanisms is required.

Previous experience in human rights monitoring and reporting and on/or in building capacity for the promotion and protection of human rights is required.

Experience in analyzing large amounts of information, including from open source is required.

Experience providing services in the field of Human Rights to or in a field operation of the United Nations Common System or a comparable international organization is required.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in French is required. Working knowledge of English is desirable.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. Applicants for positions in the General Service and related categories must be authorized to work for the United Nations in the duty station where the position is located. Eligible applicants selected from outside the duty station are responsible for any expenses in connection with their relocation to the duty station. Staff members subject to local recruitment are not eligible for allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment 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. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

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 violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, 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, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. 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 warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat 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 or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions.

Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

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.