Senior 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 is dedicated to addressing the issue of missing persons in Syria, focusing on human rights and the needs of victims, survivors, and families affected by enforced disappearances. The IIMP aims to create a framework for accountability and support for those impacted by these human rights violations. The institution operates under the auspices of the United Nations and is committed to upholding the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity in its operations. It is a relatively new organization, reflecting the UN's ongoing commitment to addressing human rights issues in conflict zones, particularly in the context of the Syrian crisis.

Job Overview:
The Senior Human Rights Officer will play a crucial role in formulating and implementing human rights strategies that address the complex issues surrounding missing persons and enforced disappearances in Syria. This position requires a deep understanding of human rights frameworks and the ability to develop institutional approaches that ensure the meaningful participation of victims and their families. The officer will advise senior leadership on human rights matters, negotiate peace accords, and propose policy directives to address human rights challenges. The role also involves significant programmatic responsibilities, including budget formulation, human rights reporting, and maintaining high-level relationships with government officials and accountability bodies. The incumbent will lead research initiatives and manage a team of human rights officers, ensuring that data-driven insights inform decision-making and strategic planning.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Human Rights Officer will be responsible for a wide range of duties, including but not limited to:

• Formulating human rights strategies with a focus on gender equality and victim participation.
• Advising the Head of Entity on human rights matters related to missing persons and enforced disappearances.
• Negotiating human rights elements in peace accords and addressing human rights concerns.
• Proposing policy directives and action plans to UN bodies for addressing human rights issues.
• Designing and implementing significant policy and program changes to tackle regional and global human rights issues.
• Preparing human rights reports on key sectors and regional developments.
• Developing and maintaining relationships with high-level government officials and accountability bodies.
• Coordinating human rights research initiatives and overseeing the work of other human rights officers.
• Leading efforts to collect and analyze data for informed decision-making and reporting. 1
• Performing other related duties as required.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a comprehensive understanding of human rights issues, including the ability to address complex problems in their political, ethnic, racial, gender, and socio-economic dimensions. The ideal candidate will have a strong grasp of the institutional mandates of human rights organizations and prevailing policies. They should demonstrate the ability to evaluate and integrate information from various sources, assess impacts on human rights situations, and provide strategic advice on institutional responses. The candidate must also exhibit strong leadership qualities, effective communication skills, and a commitment to gender balance in staffing and programming.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, political science, international relations, social sciences, or a related area 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. This educational background is essential for understanding the complex legal and political frameworks that govern human rights issues.

Experience:
A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, political affairs, international relations, law, or a related area is required. This experience must include at least five years of direct engagement with victims, survivors, and families of missing or disappeared persons. Additionally, candidates should have a minimum of three years of experience providing technical or strategic advice to national bodies on missing persons or enforced disappearance, as well as experience in designing or operationalizing transitional justice mechanisms. Experience in drafting victim protection frameworks and working in or on Syria is desirable, along with familiarity with data analytics.

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 UN Level III proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. French is also required at the same proficiency level. This multilingual requirement reflects the diverse context in which the IIMP operates and the need for effective communication with various stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The position may be subject to relocation to Damascus, Syria, or another relevant location as determined by the institution's operations. Candidates must be willing to accept such reassignment in accordance with UN regulations. The United Nations emphasizes the importance of diversity and encourages applications from underrepresented member states. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply, and the organization is committed to achieving gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. The recruitment process will not involve any fees, and reasonable accommodations will be provided for applicants with disabilities upon request.