Human Rights Officer (Legal Adviser)

Job Posting Organization:
The position is based within the Commission of Inquiry on the situation in the North and South Kivu provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), established pursuant to Human Rights Council Resolution A/HRC/RES/60/2

• The organization operates under the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), which is dedicated to promoting and protecting human rights globally. The OHCHR works to ensure that human rights are respected and upheld in various countries, including conflict zones, and aims to provide support and guidance to governments and civil society in their efforts to promote human rights. The Commission of Inquiry is specifically focused on investigating human rights violations in the DRC, highlighting the organization's commitment to addressing human rights issues in regions affected by conflict and instability. The OHCHR employs a diverse team of professionals dedicated to human rights advocacy and legal support, working in various capacities across multiple countries to uphold international human rights standards and provide assistance to those in need.

Job Overview:
The Human Rights Officer (Legal Adviser) will play a crucial role in advising the Commission of Inquiry on legal matters related to human rights investigations in the North and South Kivu provinces of the DRC. The incumbent will be responsible for conducting thorough legal analysis and research, contributing to the drafting of investigation plans, and ensuring the legal accuracy of all documents produced by the Commission. This position requires a deep understanding of the applicable legal frameworks and standards concerning human rights, as well as the ability to identify trends and patterns of violations. The officer will work closely with the investigation team to gather information, conduct interviews, and analyze open-source materials, ensuring that gender perspectives are integrated into the legal analysis. The role also involves advising on accountability measures and discussing legal findings with the Coordinator and team members. The Human Rights Officer will be expected to demonstrate professionalism, teamwork, and effective planning and organizing skills to achieve the Commission's objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Human Rights Officer (Legal Adviser) will be responsible for the following duties:

• Advising the team on the applicable legal framework and standards related to the human rights situation under investigation.
• Conducting analysis and research on various legal matters pertinent to the investigation and contributing to the drafting of the investigation plan.
• Suggesting legal qualifications of gathered information, advising on the standard of proof, and determining responsibilities, including identifying those responsible for violations.
• Providing legal advice and assisting in drafting legal opinions, memoranda, and briefing documents for Commission members and staff.
• Ensuring the legal accuracy of all documents prepared by the Commission, including reports and press releases.
• Identifying trends and patterns of human rights violations and abuses, as well as violations of international law" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">criminal law and humanitarian law.
• Drafting the legal framework and analysis of the Commission's reports, ensuring consistency with findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Conducting information gathering activities, including interviews and analysis of open-source materials and satellite imagery.
• Integrating gender perspectives into legal analysis and findings. 1
• Advising on legal findings and discussing recommendations for accountability measures. 1
• Performing other duties as required.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a strong knowledge of human rights issues, including approaches and techniques to address complex human rights problems. They should have a solid understanding of the institutional mandates of human rights organizations and prevailing policies and procedures. The ability to evaluate and integrate information from various sources and assess its impact on the human rights situation is essential. Candidates should demonstrate skills in training civil authorities and advocacy groups, as well as the ability to relate human rights issues to broader political, social, economic, and humanitarian programs. Professionalism, teamwork, and effective planning and organizing skills are crucial for success in this role.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in international law or a related discipline concerning human rights is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. This educational background is essential for understanding the complexities of human rights law and its application in various contexts.

Experience:
A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible work experience in human rights, international humanitarian law, or international criminal law is required. At least two years of experience providing legal analysis to human rights investigative bodies or tribunals is necessary. Relevant experience working in or on the DRC region is desirable, as it provides context and understanding of the specific human rights challenges faced in the area.

Languages:
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, proficiency in both languages is required, with a minimum level of proficiency as per the UN Language Framework. Candidates must demonstrate their ability to read, write, listen, and speak in both languages effectively, as communication in these languages is essential for collaboration and reporting within the Commission.

Additional Notes:
This position is temporarily available, and its extension is subject to the continuation of the mandate and availability of funds. 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 does not guarantee future employment in the same position. 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 is committed to diversity and inclusion, encouraging female candidates to apply and ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants regardless of their background.