Human Rights Officer

Volunteering Legal

Overview

Oversee and support human rights initiatives and monitoring.

You have:

• A minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, political affairs, international relations, law or a related area.
• Experience in human rights monitoring and reporting is required.
• Experience in working in a United Nations common system field operation or similar international organization or non-governmental organization in a conflict or post-conflict setting is an advantage.
• Experience working on thematic issues relevant to the MINUSCA mandate and/or work experience in Central Africa is desirable.

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.

Concerned with the security, humanitarian, human rights and political crisis in the Central African Republic and its regional implications, the Security Council authorized on 10 April 2014 deployment of a multidimensional United Nations peacekeeping operation – MINUSCA, with the protection of civilians as its utmost priority. Its other initial tasks included support for the transition process; facilitating humanitarian assistance; promotion and protection of human rights; support for justice and the rule of law; and disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation processes. The newly established mission subsumed the UN Integrated Peace building Office in the Central African Republic (BINUCA) on the date of the establishment and has been set to take over authority in military and police matters from the African Union-led peacekeeping operation – MISCA – on 15 September 2014.

Under the direct supervision of the Chief Human Rights Officer and his designated official in the Sector and/or Officer in Charge Human Rights Office and within delegated authority, the UN Volunteer Human Rights Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Researches and collects information pertaining to human rights matters, including their gender dimensions, from a variety of data sources; assists in the analysis of information, to include the impact on the human rights situation in CAR.
• Enter all cases on the human rights database according to human rights standards and its methodology.
• Maintains awareness of current human rights issues in the Region assigned to include relevant political and legal developments.
• Contributes to the identification of human rights issues/problems, including their gender dimensions, through good research and analysis and timely preparation of reports, etc.
• Liaises with government representatives, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations, UN agencies and other partners to create baseline data on the human rights situation in the Region assigned with special attention to vulnerable groups.
• Participates with other Human Rights Officers in discussions with relevant authorities and other influential actors with the aim of stopping or preventing human rights violations or seeks other remedial action by the authorities to prevent similar violations occurring in the future.
• Drafts a variety of types of reports relating to human rights matters.
• Participates in human rights training programmes for national law enforcement officials, representatives of the civil society and human rights non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in order to promote national capacity building.
• Reviews human rights issues, including their gender dimensions, and participates in discussions with other Human Rights Officers on the integration of these issues into political, humanitarian and economic efforts and programmes.

Adaptability and Flexibility, Building Trust, Communication, Empowering Others, Ethics and Values, Integrity, Judgement and Decision-making, Professionalism, Self-Management, Working in Teams

A minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, political affairs, international relations, law or a related area. Experience in human rights monitoring and reporting is required. Experience in working in a United Nations common system field operation (inclusive of peacekeeping, political missions and UN agencies, funds, and programmes) – or similar international organization or non-governmental organization – in a conflict or post-conflict setting is an advantage. Experience working on thematic issues relevant to the MINUSCA mandate and/or work experience in Central Africa is desirable.

The Central African Republic is a non-family duty station with a difficult security and working environment. Security instructions from the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) need to be strictly complied with in all duty stations. The country security level is between 3 and 5, restricting movement to official travel only. Currently a curfew applies from 8 pm to 5 am.

The country is landlocked, with very limited travel possibilities, and surrounded by countries with volatile and security problems (Cameroon, Chad, DRC, Sudan, South Sudan). There is an unstable socio-political situation and social unrest and grievance, in particular in the capital city Bangui, with frequent civil servant strikes causing interruption of health, education and civil service, due to years of unpaid salaries. Power cuts are a norm, causing insecurity in the city. The population in Bangui, including the expatriates, is concerned about increasing crime as a direct result of the March 2013 coup by the SELEKA, a coalition of rebel groups, and events in December 2013 that carried the country into chaos. The country is entirely dependent on the Cameroon seaport, situated 1500 km away, causing regular shortage of basic domestic goods. Travel time for a truck from Douala in Cameroon to Bangui averages a week because of very bad roads and roadblocks along the way.

This situation puts tremendous stress on personnel. There are very limited medical infrastructures and services do not function properly. Living conditions are difficult due to the high cost of living and the scarcity of basic products and food. Supermarkets having all variety of food and appliances are available but are costly. Fresh vegetables and fruits are available in the market. There is no MINUSCA Guest House in Bangui. Private accommodation possibilities are limited and getting a house that is compliant with UN security measures can take several weeks. UN personnel in Bangui live on the local economy by renting apartments and houses. In comparison to a few years ago, more accommodation is available now, but at high cost. Sharing accommodation is recommended. Currently all serving UN Volunteers have access to decent accommodation ensuring minimum standards of comfort. The average monthly cost for accommodation varies from around 500 USD for a small apartment with no furniture, no power generator and no running water, to 2,000 USD with all commodities. A UN Dispensary provides basic medical care for UN personnel and a UN hospital has been operational since August 2014. A Level II Hospital run by a military medical team exists as well. Only four airlines officially recognized by the UN System serve the country: Air France (twice a week), Royal Air Maroc (twice a week), Kenya Airways (three flights per week) and Asky (three flights per week). Flights are sometimes subject to cancellation when security situation volatility increases.

The town of Kanga Bandoro (Sector Centre HQ) is located in the centre of the country at 320 km from Bangui. The living conditions are similar5 to the ones prevailing in Bria.

Rest & Recuperation (R&R) scheme has been re-established since August 2013 and maintained for all CAR duty stations at a 6-week frequency.

The Central African Republic is a unique country, and MINUSCA is a unique operation. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment but also requires a mature level of cultural and security awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable.

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Potential interview questions

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unv.org