Human Rights Officer

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

UNMISS was established in 2011 under the auspices of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO); subsequently, UNMISS mandate has been renewed through resolutions 2057 (2012), 2109 (2013), 2155 (2014), 2187 (2014), 2223 (2015), 2241 (Dec. 2015), 2304 (2016) and 2327 (2016), 2392 (Dec. 2017), 2406 (Mar. 2018), 2459 (Mar. 2019), 2514 (Mar. 2020), 2567 (Mar. 2021), 2625 (Mar. 2022). UN Security Council Resolution 2565 (2022) reiterates “the urgent need to end impunity in South Sudan and to bring to justice all those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights, stressing the importance of transitional justice measures, including those stipulated in the Revitalized Agreement, to end impunity and promote accountability, facilitate national reconciliation and healing, and ensure a sustainable peace, as recognized by Chapter V of the Revitalized Agreement”.

In line with the UNMISS mandate, the overall objective of HRD’s program is to strengthen the rule of law and legal reforms, as well as to enhance individual and institutional accountability for human rights violations in South Sudan aiming to: (i) address, prevent and reduce human rights violations in the context of law enforcement and justice systems. (ii) provide increased accountability for conflict-related violations, including conflict-related sexual violence, through support to transitional justice processes, national security forces, law enforcement agencies, the justice system and non-state actors; (iii) enhance and protect civic space and people’s participation in the context of consultations on transitional justice, the constitutional-making process, and forthcoming elections. (iv) amplify the application of HRDDP as an advocacy tool to further strengthen compliance with human rights and international humanitarian law; and (v) support the implementation of the recommendations of human rights mechanisms, more importantly the UPR and treaty bodies’ recommendations.

Please note that the contract duration will be subjected to the mission's mandate renewal, on yearly basis.

Under the direct supervision of the Field office Team Leader or Thematic Team leader, and overall supervision of Director of the Human Rights Division or his/her designate, the UNV Human Rights Officer will be responsible for implementing the Work Plan of the HRD including assisting, in conducting monitoring/ fact-finding missions, as well as reporting and advocacy activities in the area of assignment as mandated in United Nations Security Council Resolution 2565 (2022). The incumbent will:

• Contribute to and/or draft communications, briefing notes, talking points, press releases, statements, bullet points, or other products. • Draft various internal and external reports on the human rights situation in South Sudan covering specific timeframes (e.g., daily, weekly, monthly) or themes (e.g., freedom of expression) based on submissions from colleagues based in the field and HQ. The candidate may be asked to draft reports during evening hours (i.e., daily) or weekends (i.e., weekly); • Conduct capacity building activities in areas of administration of justice and transitional justice which include advising national counterparts, facilitating and organizing workshops, supporting national criminal justice system organization, training of national actors and/or monitoring of the court and legal system. • Facilitate the implementation of the human rights mandate in the designated area of conflict-related violations. • Gather information, analyze and report on the situation of human rights in relation to the armed conflict, including through close cooperation with field teams, other United Nations actors and the community. • Support HRD’s analysis by maintaining a proactive situational awareness of human rights and political developments for the purpose of gathering data on hotspots and early warning mapping and support in HRD’s information analysis. • Identify incidents requiring further monitoring and/or investigation, co-ordinate with field teams regarding follow-up, and analyze the potential impact of reported incidents on the human rights situation; • Monitor and follow up on incidents of denial of access by armed groups to locations where human rights monitoring and investigation activities are planned to take place, and coordinate with field teams and the Legal Affairs to identify possible courses of action in response. • Assist in developing the profiles of alleged perpetrators of human rights violations in close coordination with field teams. • Conduct fact-finding missions and investigations into abuses/violations of human rights or humanitarian law • Establish and maintain contacts with government representatives, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations, UN agencies and other partners operating in the AOR. • Ensure, coordinate and supervise the timely entry of accurate and verified human rights cases into an established database; conduct quality control and deliver statistics and trend reports as required. • Undertake risk assessment in the framework of Human Rights Due Diligence Policy (HRDDP) and monitor implementation of mitigating measures. • Ensure the integration of gender perspectives, with specific attention to issues related to women and girls, including conflict-related sexual violence, within all assigned human rights activities. • Represent the UNMISS human rights office at working level meetings, as relevant. • Perform other related duties as required.

• Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity Planning and organizing • Professionalism • Self-management

the field of human rights.
- Knowledge of international human rights instruments and tools for the promotion and protection of human rights is required.
- Willingness to work in hardship duty stations is required.
- Knowledge of international humanitarian law is desirable. - Experience in human rights monitoring and reporting is desirable.
- Experience in research and drafting documents, such as reports, is desirable.
- Experience working in regional countries is desirable.
- Experience working in a developing, conflict or post-conflict setting is an advantage.

Living conditions vary between UNMISS duty stations. Each duty station where UNMISS has a field presence has basic residential camp facilities, which includes running water and electricity. Candidates should be aware that accommodation may be austere with the possibility of water shortages and power blackouts. On arrival in Juba accommodation will be on a share basis. Ablutions will also be shared. As the accommodation situation improves single unit accommodation, with an attached ablution, should become available in all locations. Hard wall accommodation is available in Juba.

All UNMISS duty stations apart from Entebbe, Uganda are considered non - family duty stations. The security level of UNMISS duty stations is classified by the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) who will brief on arrival. A number of locations in South Sudan are prone to conflict.

Primary health care services (preventive and curative) are provided in 11 United Nations Owned Equipment (UNOE) Level-I clinics, 21 Contingent Owned Equipment (COE) Level-I clinics, 4 COE Level-II medical facilities within the mission area and the establishment of contractual agreements for Level-III and Level-IIII care outside the mission area. The 4 Level-II facilities available in Juba, Bor, Malakal and Wau, run by the Troop Contributing Countries (TCC), take referrals from the Level-I clinics and provide hospital-based care.

The climate is tropical with a rainy season in many areas, which should normally span from around April to October. Ability to live and work in difficult and harsh conditions is essential.