Human Rights Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is the principal institution of the Organization for security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) responsible for the human dimension. Established to promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, ODIHR operates across the OSCE area, engaging in activities such as election observation, democratic development, and human rights advocacy. The organization is committed to addressing a wide range of security-related concerns, including human rights, combating human trafficking, and promoting tolerance and non-discrimination. The OSCE comprises 57 participating States, all of which enjoy equal status, and decisions are made by consensus, reflecting a politically binding but not legally binding framework. ODIHR's mission is to assist participating States in meeting their commitments to human rights and democratic governance, and it implements various assistance projects and activities in accordance with its mandate.

Job Overview:
The Human Rights Officer position is integral to the Human Rights Department's Human Rights, Gender and Security portfolio within ODIHR. The incumbent will be responsible for monitoring, analyzing, and reporting on human rights developments across the OSCE region. This role involves advising ODIHR management on human rights trends and priority areas, as well as providing guidance to participating States. The officer will develop and implement programmatic activities focused on human rights and gender mainstreaming in the security sector, collaborating with OSCE structures, government counterparts, and civil society organizations. The position requires a proactive approach to designing and evaluating capacity-building initiatives, training programs, and field activities such as workshops and seminars. The officer will also liaise with OSCE field missions and partners to support program development and reporting, ensuring that human rights considerations are integrated into all relevant activities.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Advise, develop, and implement programmatic activities and projects on human rights and gender mainstreaming in the security sector, in cooperation with OSCE structures, government counterparts, and civil society.
• Design, implement, and evaluate capacity-building initiatives, training programs, and field activities such as workshops, seminars, and dialogues.
• Liaise with OSCE field missions, gender focal points, and implementing partners to collect, analyze, and exchange information supporting program development and reporting.
• Prepare project proposals, budgets, and donor reports, and maintain accurate records in information management systems.
• Establish and maintain cooperation with government authorities, international organizations, and NGOs, supervising experts and contractors engaged in program delivery.
• Monitor and analyze human rights developments across the OSCE region, advising management on priority areas, programmatic responses, and follow-up actions.
• Contribute to department-wide initiatives by providing expertise, feedback, and support on cross-cutting activities, drafting materials, and inter-departmental projects.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a second-level university degree in social sciences, international relations, political science, or a related field, with a specialization in human rights preferred. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two years of additional qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. A minimum of five years of progressively responsible and relevant professional experience in the field of human rights is required, including experience at the international level in an advisory function. Knowledge of UN, Council of Europe, and OSCE human rights and equality standards, as well as human rights monitoring and reporting methodology and practice, is essential. Candidates should also have experience in designing and implementing projects, particularly within the security sector, and possess established in-depth knowledge of women's human rights and security-related issues, including relevant mechanisms such as UNSCR 1325.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master's degree (second-level university degree or equivalent) in social sciences, international relations, political science, or a related field. A first-level university degree may be considered if accompanied by relevant additional experience, specifically in the field of human rights.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of progressively responsible and relevant professional experience in the field of human rights. Candidates with a first-level university degree must have at least seven years of experience. This experience should include work at the international level in an advisory capacity, demonstrating a strong understanding of human rights issues and the ability to engage with various stakeholders effectively.

Languages:
Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are mandatory for this position. Proficiency in other OSCE languages is appreciated and considered an asset, as it enhances the ability to communicate with diverse stakeholders across the OSCE region.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified as an international secondment, and candidates must be nominated by their respective participating States. The OSCE emphasizes diversity and inclusion within its workforce, encouraging qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply. The maximum period of service in this post is 10 years, and candidates should be aware that OSCE officials are expected to conduct themselves in a manner befitting their status as international civil servants. The OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application process, and appointments are subject to medical clearance. The position is full-time, with a target start date as soon as possible.