Associate Human Rights Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The Independent Institution on Missing Persons in the Syrian Arab Republic (IIMP) was established by the General Assembly in its resolution 77/301, adopted on 29 June 202

• The organization focuses on addressing the issue of missing persons in the context of the Syrian conflict, aiming to provide a framework for accountability and support for victims' families. The IIMP operates with a commitment to uphold human rights and ensure that the voices of those affected by the conflict are heard and considered in the processes of justice and reconciliation. The organization is relatively new, and its establishment reflects the international community's recognition of the urgent need to address the humanitarian crisis in Syria, particularly concerning the rights and needs of missing persons and their families. The IIMP is expected to engage with various stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, and civil society, to fulfill its mission effectively.

Job Overview:
The Associate Human Rights Officer position is critical in supporting the IIMP's mission to address human rights issues related to missing persons in Syria. The incumbent will be responsible for researching and collecting information on human rights matters, particularly focusing on the gender dimensions of these issues. This role involves engaging directly with victims and survivors of human rights abuses to document their experiences and assess their protection needs. The Associate Human Rights Officer will draft reports and correspondence related to human rights matters, participate in hearings and consultations, and maintain awareness of current human rights issues in the region. The position requires a proactive approach to community mobilization and collaboration with various stakeholders to promote the exercise of rights among affected populations. The role also includes designing and maintaining databases to track project progress and contributing to data analysis for informed decision-making and reporting.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Associate Human Rights Officer include: researching and collecting information on human rights issues, including gender dimensions; engaging with victims and survivors to document their experiences; drafting reports and correspondence on human rights matters; participating in hearings and consultations; maintaining awareness of current human rights issues; conducting human rights training programs for national law enforcement and civil society representatives; reviewing human rights issues and discussing integration into broader efforts; promoting community mobilization; liaising with government, NGOs, and UN agencies to create baseline data on human rights situations; designing and maintaining databases for project tracking; analyzing data to identify trends and providing insights through data visualization; and performing other related duties as required.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a strong knowledge of human rights issues, including the ability to identify related problems in their political, ethnic, racial, gender equality, and socio-economic dimensions. They should have research and analytical skills, including the ability to identify sources for data collection and draft human rights reports. Professionalism, effective communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively in a team are essential. Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring 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 experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
A minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, political affairs, international relations, law, or a related area is required. Experience working directly with victims and survivors of conflict and human rights abuses is desirable, as is experience working in or on the Syrian Arab Republic. Experience in data analytics or related areas is also desirable.

Languages:
The working languages of the United Nations Secretariat are English and French. For this position, proficiency in English and Arabic is required, with a minimum level of proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking according to the UN Language Framework.

Additional Notes:
This position is available until 6 October 202

• If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. This temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, but it is for a limited period and does not affect the future incumbency of the post. The eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station, and it may be restricted to 'internal candidates' who have been recruited through a competitive examination. The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, and candidates must provide complete and accurate information in their applications.