Human Rights Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The position is located in the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa (ROMENA), which is dedicated to promoting and protecting human rights globally. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights was established in 1993 and operates in various countries to ensure adherence to international human rights standards. The organization employs thousands of staff members worldwide and works in numerous regions to address human rights violations and promote justice, equality, and dignity for all individuals.

Job Overview:
The Human Rights Officer will play a crucial role in planning and coordinating activities related to thematic and country mandates on human rights, with a particular focus on gender perspectives. This position requires conducting substantive legal research and analysis of human rights issues/events, assessing their impact on the human rights situation in the assigned region or country. The officer will collect and analyze human rights data and indicators, ensuring that gender equality considerations are integrated into political, humanitarian, and economic efforts. The role also involves assisting stakeholders in developing and implementing programs related to human rights, international law" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">humanitarian law, democracy, and the rule of law. The Human Rights Officer will represent the UN human rights program at meetings, write various reports and communications, and may provide guidance to junior staff. The position demands a proactive approach to identifying trends and patterns in human rights data, enabling data-driven planning and decision-making.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Human Rights Officer will be responsible for a wide range of duties, including: planning and coordinating activities related to human rights mandates; conducting legal research and analysis; collecting and analyzing human rights data; integrating human rights issues into various programs; defining work plans according to established terms of reference; assisting stakeholders in program development; conducting field verification work; representing the UN at meetings; writing reports and communications; providing guidance to junior staff; and performing other related duties as required. The officer will also be expected to evaluate and integrate information from various sources to assess the human rights situation in the assigned area, ensuring that gender perspectives are incorporated into all aspects of work.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a strong knowledge of human rights issues, including their political, ethnic, racial, gender equality, and socio-economic dimensions. They should have a solid understanding of the institutional mandates of human rights organizations, prevailing policies, and procedures. Strong research and analytical skills are essential, as well as the ability to draft human rights reports and evaluate information from diverse sources. The candidate should 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.

Experience:
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, political affairs, international relations, law, or a related area is required. Experience in a transitional, developmental, conflict, or post-conflict setting is essential. Candidates should have experience in drafting analytical papers on human rights and monitoring and evaluating activities related to the implementation of international human rights instruments. Experience supporting international human rights mechanisms is also desirable, as is experience with the United Nations or similar international organizations.

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 categorized under the National Professional Officer category, meaning candidates must be nationals of Lebanon. The United Nations emphasizes the importance of diversity and inclusion in its workforce and encourages female candidates to apply. The organization does not charge any fees during the recruitment process and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. The position may involve an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment.