National Legal Advisor

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

Following an agreement signed in 2016 between the Government of Chad and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), a Country Office of OHCHR was established in Chad. The mandate of the Country Office is to advise and assist the Government of Chad in the development and implementation of human rights policies, strategies, programmes and measures to promote and protect human rights. The Country Office also provides advisory services and technical assistance to the Government and partners, including national institutions and civil society organisations, on the implementation of regional and international human rights standards. The office also monitors the human rights situation throughout the country. The Country Office is based in N’Djamena. The UN Volunteer will contribute to the scaling up of OHCHR presence in Chad and will be an asset to strengthen the human rights capacity of the office, particularly by providing legal backing and arguments to all of its activities (protection and capacity building). The incumbent will interact with national judicial authorities, defence and security forces, political and administrative authorities, the National Human Rights Commission, national and international civil society organizations and UN agencies, traditional and religious leaders, victims of human rights violations and their families, and witnesses. Information on OHCHR mandate, results and activities is available at www.ohchr.org.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Office and the Deputy, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: • Analyse legal texts – national and international • Provide briefings on the legal aspects of texts to be made public by OHCHR • Provide legal opinions on specific cases of human rights violations or abuses of humani-tarian law • Provide legal arguments to support actions by the Office, such as advocacy for ratification • Provide comments to draft national laws, based on international standards and other na-tional laws related to the texts, in cooperation with international experts • Undertake legal researches, as requested • Undertake trial monitoring and follow-up to judicial procedures on specific cases

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to OHCHR. • Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and OHCHR in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains. • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries. • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. • Planning and organizing effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports. • Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort. • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards OHCHR’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

• Advanced higher degree (Master’s or equivalent) preferably in law or other disciplines related to human rights; • At least three years of professional work experience at the national and/or international level in the field of law and/or human rights or other relevant programmes; experience working in the UN or other international development organization is an asset; . Demonstrated ability to work within the geographical area of assignment in the field of human rights; • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills; • Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collab-oratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of commu-nications for development; • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel; • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; • Sound security awareness; • Have affinity with or interest in human rights protection and promotion, volunteerism as a mecha-nism for durable development, and the UN System.

Living Conditions: The UNV will be based in N’Djamena, the country's capital. The climate is mainly hot and dry especially during the hot season, which lasts from March to June with maximum average temperatures ranging between 40 ° C and 46 ° C. The temperatures are a little milder and revolve around 30 ° C during the rainy season which goes from June to September and that of the harmattan which extends from November to February, where it happens that the thermometer goes down to around 20 ° C to 25 ° C in the morning or in the evening. In terms of security, Chad has been faced for several years with a resurgence of terrorist attacks on the borders with Chad and Libya and in the Lake Chad Region. The security situation in the city of N’Djamena is relatively calm and is classified by UNDSS at risk level 2, i.e. low. As for the workplace, the UNVs will be at the office of OHCHR in N’Djamena, located in a secure neighbourhood about ten minutes from the airport. The office is approved by UNDSS, internet and mobile telephones with the possibility of international calls are available.

Reasonable Accommodation

The UN system wishes to create an inclusive workplace and commits to taking appropriate measures to enable persons with disabilities to access and benefit equally from employment and other engagement opportunities such as volunteering, by providing reasonable accommodation. In this context, “reasonable accommodation” means necessary and appropriate modifications and adjustments not imposing a disproportionate or undue burden, where needed in a particular case, to ensure to persons with disabilities the enjoyment or exercise on an equal basis with others of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.[Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Article 2]