HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER

Contract

This is a P-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 120,185 USD and 157,373 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 This position is in the Field Operations and Technical Cooperation Division (FOTCD) of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in Addis Ababa. The incumbent will work under the overall guidance of the Chief of the Peace Missions Support Section (PMSS) and the day-to-day guidance of the Chief of the Operational Planning and Advisory Section of United Nations Office of the African Union (UNOAU), and OHCHR’s Regional Representative for East Africa.

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

• Assists in the mainstreaming of human rights into UNOAU planning and support functions to the AU as well as in planning for human rights components of AU-led operations;
• Assists the AU in planning for human rights components of AU-led operations;
• Supports the integration of human rights in AU peace operations;
• Assists AU counterparts in building human rights expertise and capacity for the integration of human rights in AU Peace Missions, and their capacity to translate human rights priorities into concepts of operations and rules of engagements;
• Conducts substantive research and analysis of human rights issues/events and assesses their impact on the human rights situation in assigned region or country;
• Provides input to policy, best practices and guidance relevant to human rights; Assists UNOAU, the AU and Troop and Police Contributing Countries on the implementation of the Human Rights Due Diligence Policy on UN-support to non-UN security forces (HRDDP);
• Collects and analyses human rights data and indicators in the AU mission areas;
• Facilitates information sharing, including through organizing and participating in coordination meetings on developments affecting human rights in AU peace operations, and the liaison with other UN partners such as the Department of Peace Operations (DPO), Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and the Department of Operational Support (DOS);
• Evaluates requirements, plans and supports established human rights components and supports the conceptualisation and planning of new UN and AU-UN operations, as well as mandate revisions and mission transitions;
• Participates in the organization of regular meetings of heads of human rights components;
• Supports Geographic Desk Officers (UNOAU) in responding to requests for substantive assistance and operational support to human rights components of AU-UN peace missions including through the review of public reporting by human rights components and adherence to relevant policies;
• Contributes to the identification and vetting of human rights staff for peace operations, as required;
• Assists in ensuring the integration of gender perspectives and attention to specific women/girl’s rights issues within the work of human rights components of peace operations and the Peace Missions Support Section;
• Keeps abreast of developments in the AU-UN peace and security agenda;

• Performs other related duties as required.

  Competencies Professionalism: Knowledge of a wide range of human rights issues. Ability to include approaches and techniques to address sensitive problems. Knowledge of institutional mandates, policies, guidelines and procedures related to UN peace operations, including those related to the integration of human rights in peace missions. Knowledge of the role of human rights components in peacekeeping operations and of other civilian and uniformed components. Knowledge of human rights principles, international mechanisms and related concepts applicable to UN peace missions, including the protection of civilians, humanitarian action and conflict-related sexual violence. Ability to identify problems, i.e., political, ethnic, racial, gender and social, economic, etc., causing civil unrest in a country or geographic area; Analytical and research skills, including ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess impact on the integration of human rights on UN peacekeeping mission. Shows pride in work and in 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.

Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

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.

Education Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in law, political affairs, international relations or human rights related area. 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 5 years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, political affairs, international relations, law or related field is required.

Out of the five years, a minimum of two years of field experience in human rights, including monitoring and reporting is desirable.

Human rights experience working with an international, regional, or non-governmental organization in a conflict or post-conflict setting is desirable.

Experience supporting UN field operations is desirable.

Experience working with regional organisations on peace and security issues and/or programmes is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations. For this position, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.

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

Special Notice Extension of the appointment is subject to the extension of the mandate and/or the availability of funds.

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.

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

Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position.

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.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side 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.