Human Rights Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The position is located in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), specifically within the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU). The OHCHR was established to promote and protect human rights globally, ensuring that international human rights standards are upheld. The organization operates in various countries, focusing on monitoring human rights situations, providing technical assistance, and supporting the implementation of human rights obligations. The OHCHR employs a diverse workforce dedicated to advocating for human rights and addressing violations, with a mission to ensure accountability and justice for victims of human rights abuses.

Job Overview:
The Human Rights Officer will play a crucial role in planning and coordinating activities related to human rights mandates, particularly in the context of Ukraine. This position requires a deep understanding of human rights issues, including gender perspectives, and the ability to conduct substantive research and analysis of human rights violations. The officer will gather information through interviews with victims and witnesses, corroborate allegations of violations, and assess their impact on the human rights situation in Ukraine. The role also involves providing support to UN human rights mechanisms, integrating human rights considerations into various efforts, and supervising field verification work. The officer will represent the HRMMU at meetings and produce reports and communications for policy-making bodies, contributing to the overall mission of promoting and protecting human rights in the region.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Human Rights Officer will be responsible for a variety of tasks, including: planning and coordinating thematic and country-specific human rights activities; conducting research and analysis of human rights violations; gathering and corroborating information on allegations of violations; assessing the impact of these violations; collecting and analyzing human rights trends and data, including gender-specific indicators; supporting UN human rights mechanisms; ensuring integration of human rights issues into political and humanitarian efforts; defining work plans; supervising field verification work; representing the HRMMU at meetings; and writing reports and communications. The officer may also provide guidance to junior staff and perform other related duties as required, demonstrating a commitment to professionalism, teamwork, and effective planning and organizing.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a strong knowledge of human rights issues and the ability to identify related problems across various dimensions, including political, ethnic, racial, and socio-economic factors. They should have excellent research and analytical skills, the ability to draft human rights reports, and the capacity to evaluate and integrate information from diverse sources. The ideal candidate will demonstrate professionalism, teamwork, and effective planning and organizing skills, with a commitment to gender equality and the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, political science, international relations, social sciences, or a related field is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree, allowing for flexibility in educational qualifications while still ensuring a high level of expertise in relevant areas.

Experience:
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, political affairs, international relations, law, or a related area is required. Out of these five years, at least two years of experience in conducting human rights monitoring is desirable. Experience in conducting interviews with victims and witnesses of human rights violations, as well as working in conflict settings involving international humanitarian law, is also highly desirable, indicating a need for practical experience in challenging environments.

Languages:
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat, with English being a mandatory requirement for this position. Proficiency in Russian is also required, while knowledge of Ukrainian is considered desirable. Candidates must demonstrate their language skills according to the UN Language Framework, ensuring effective communication in a multilingual environment.

Additional Notes:
This position is temporarily available for six months, with the possibility of extension subject to the availability of funds. It is important to note that current staff members holding a fixed-term, permanent, or continuing appointment may apply for temporary positions, but there are specific eligibility requirements based on their current grade. The selection process may include an assessment exercise followed by a competency-based interview. The United Nations emphasizes the importance of diversity and inclusion in its recruitment process, ensuring that all candidates are treated fairly and equitably, regardless of their background.