Job Opening (Human Rights Officer)

Overview

Lead human rights compliance for the Force Conjointe G5 Sahel project

You have:

• Advanced University degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in law, political science, international relations, social sciences, or a related field.
• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, political affairs, international relations, law or related area is required.
• Fluency in oral and written French is required.
• Knowledge of English is desirable.
• Experience working with security forces is desirable.
• Experience working in Mauritania or the region is desirable.

Contract

This is a P-4 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 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 118,898 USD and 153,294 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 located in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Nouakchott (Mauritania). The incumbent reports to the Senior Human Rights Officer (Project Coordinator) responsible for leading implementation of the OHCHR Project supporting the Force Conjointe G5 Sahel (FC-G5S), located in Mali, under the overall supervision of OHCHR’s Africa Branch, Field Operations and Technical Cooperation Division (FOTCD).

Work implies frequent interaction with the FC G5S and other national actors, including the army and the police, related to the operations of the G5S Staff of UN specialized agencies, representatives of non-governmental organizations, regional intergovernmental organizations, the FC G5S and other national actors, including the army and the police, related to the operations of the G5S.

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

•Plans and coordinates activities related to the implementation of the human rights compliance framework of the Force Conjointe G5-Sahel (FC-G5S), including from a gender perspective. •Contributes to, 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 and particularly, the Human Rights Compliance Framework of the FC-G5S. •Supports the work of treaty-established bodies and extra-conventional mechanisms and special procedures. •Prepares relevant human rights parts of reports for the General Assembly, UN Security Council, HRC, etc. notes on the status of ratification of human rights instruments, etc. •Works with UN and non-governmental programmes in the country/region to integrate human rights, including their gender dimensions in their programs; helps design and implements the human rights program and designs the organization and focus of the evaluation. •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; brief representatives and provides, as appropriate suggestions and recommendations. •Assists and engages national security forces, including the army, and other related national authorities to ensure an effective implementation of the compliance framework of the FC-G5S , with attention to gender perspectives. •Serves as team leader with responsibility for carrying out work coordination and administrative functions relating to the staff, planning and budget. •Takes a lead role in identifying the underlying cause of human rights violations; negotiates with conflicting factions to identify causes of human rights violations and discusses possible bases for resolution. •Serves as an effective spokesperson, and forms strong partnerships with relevant parties involved to engender support for and advance the institution's human rights agenda as it concerns the G5 Sahel. •Takes a lead role in identifying the underlying cause of human rights violations; negotiates with conflicting factions to identify causes of human rights violations and discusses possible bases for resolution. •Serves as an effective spokesperson, and forms strong partnerships with relevant parties involved to engender support for and advance the institution's human rights agenda as it concerns the G5 Sahel. •Trains and supervises new/junior staff. •Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of and exposure to a range of human rights issues including approaches and techniques to address sensitive and complex human rights problems in their political, ethnic, racial, gender and socio-economic dimensions. Knowledge of institutional mandates of human rights organizations, prevailing policies and procedures. Ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess impact on the human rights situation in the region or country of assignment, including the political environment and legal statutes as they pertain to human rights. Ability to complete in-depth studies and reach conclusions on possible causes and solutions to human rights problems in specific societies and systems. Demonstrated skills in training civil authorities and members of advocacy groups. Ability to relate to human rights issues and perspectives, including their gender equality dimensions, to political, social, economic and humanitarian programmes in affected countries and areas. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

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 audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

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.

MANAGING PERFORMANCE: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly.

Education Advanced University degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in law, political science, international relations, social sciences or a 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.

Work Experience A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, political affairs, international relations, law or related area is required. Experience working with security forces is desirable. Experience working in Mauritania, or the region is also desirable.

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

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

Special Notice - This position will be available until the return of the incumbent on maternity leave and also subject to the availability of funding. The eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.

This position is temporarily available until [specific date]. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.

• While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.

• Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.

• This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15.

• Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply.Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.

• Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

  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.

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.

Potential interview questions