Associate Human Rights Officer (Protection of Civilians Specialist)

Job Posting Organization:
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is a part of the United Nations system, established to promote and protect human rights globally. The OHCHR works to ensure that human rights are respected and upheld in accordance with law" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">international law. The organization operates in various countries, including those in conflict or post-conflict situations, and has a mission to address human rights violations and promote accountability. The OHCHR is committed to fostering a culture of respect for human rights and works closely with governments, civil society, and other stakeholders to achieve its goals. The office in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) focuses on the promotion and protection of human rights in this specific region, addressing issues such as women's rights and the rights of vulnerable populations.

Job Overview:
The Associate Human Rights Officer will play a crucial role in supporting the implementation of human rights activities in the occupied Palestinian territory. This position involves working under the guidance of the Head of Office or their delegate, contributing to the promotion and protection of human rights, particularly in relation to women’s rights. The incumbent will be responsible for providing substantive support to Protection Working Groups, ensuring that human rights considerations are integrated into protection coordination mechanisms. This includes analyzing data, providing advisory inputs, and coordinating with humanitarian partners to enhance protection response planning. The role also involves participating in joint protection assessments, applying trauma-informed and gender-sensitive approaches, and undertaking data collection and analysis in line with established methodologies. The Associate Human Rights Officer will contribute to the formulation and review of protection policies and programs, assist in preparing reports on conflict-related sexual violence, and support the strengthening of community-based child protection mechanisms. The position requires a proactive approach to partnership-building and the development of new collaborations with local partners and stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Associate Human Rights Officer include:

• Providing substantive support to Protection Working Groups and contributing to human rights mainstreaming in protection coordination mechanisms.
• Undertaking timely information-sharing with UN entities and partners to enhance protection response planning.
• Participating in joint protection assessments and applying trauma-informed, gender- and child-sensitive approaches.
• Conducting data collection, documentation, verification, and analysis in line with established protection methodologies.
• Contributing to the formulation, implementation, and review of mission and UN system-wide protection of civilians policies and programs.
• Assisting in preparing conflict-related sexual violence analytical inputs and reports.
• Supporting liaison with donors, UN entities, and regional organizations to promote coordinated responses.
• Strengthening community-based child protection mechanisms in collaboration with local partners.
• Identifying, documenting, and disseminating best practices and lessons learned on victim-centered protection policies. 1
• Supporting partnership-building and developing new partnerships through outreach and background research. 1
• Preparing and updating training materials in collaboration with relevant UN agencies and partners.

Required Qualifications:
The required qualifications for the Associate Human Rights Officer position include:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in human rights, law, political science, international relations, social sciences, economics, public policy, sustainable development, humanitarian affairs, or a related field.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of 2 years of experience in human rights or related areas is required, which may include political affairs, public affairs, international relations, law, social sciences, economics, development, or humanitarian affairs.
• Skills in designing, delivering, and evaluating capacity-building and training programs are required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of child protection and related frameworks, as well as knowledge of protection of civilians and related frameworks, is essential.
• Knowledge of development or humanitarian frameworks and processes is also required.
• Skills in incorporating a survivor-centered approach into programs and projects are desirable.
• Knowledge of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and related frameworks is also desirable.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in fields such as human rights, law, political science, international relations, social sciences, economics, public policy, sustainable development, or humanitarian affairs. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. This educational background is critical for understanding the complex legal and social frameworks that govern human rights and humanitarian issues.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in human rights or related fields. This experience should encompass areas such as political affairs, public affairs, international relations, law, social sciences, economics, development, or humanitarian affairs. Additionally, candidates should have at least 3 years of demonstrated knowledge of child protection and related frameworks, as well as knowledge of protection of civilians and related frameworks. Experience in development or humanitarian frameworks and processes is also necessary. Skills in designing and implementing capacity-building and training programs are essential, along with a demonstrated understanding of a survivor-centered approach in design" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">program design.

Languages:
For this position, proficiency in English and Arabic is required, as these are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Candidates must demonstrate a minimum of UN Level III proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking for both languages. Knowledge of French is considered an asset but is not mandatory for this role. The ability to communicate effectively in these languages is crucial for collaboration with diverse stakeholders and for the preparation of reports and documentation.

Additional Notes:
This position is temporarily available until 31 December 2026, subject to the availability of funds. Candidates for the National Professional Officer category must be nationals of the country where the position is located. The United Nations is committed to achieving gender balance in its workforce and strongly encourages female candidates to apply. The position is locally recruited, and General Service staff members applying must meet minimum requirements, including academic qualifications and relevant experience. The United Nations does not charge any fees during the recruitment process and is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment.