Human Rights Officer

Job Posting Organization:
NORCAP is an organization that works to improve aid to better protect and empower people affected by crises and climate change. Established as part of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), NORCAP aims to provide expertise and solutions to humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding partners. The organization believes that collaboration is essential to reduce needs, risks, and vulnerabilities over time. NORCAP operates globally, focusing on enhancing the effectiveness of aid and creating opportunities for vulnerable populations. The organization is committed to international cooperation and evidence-based action, particularly in areas like energy security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, which are crucial for economic stability and human security.

Job Overview:
The Human Rights Officer position is integral to NORCAP's mission, particularly in strengthening international cooperation and evidence-based actions regarding human rights issues in Ukraine. The role involves monitoring, reporting, and advocating for human rights, contributing to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine. This mission plays a vital role in documenting human rights violations, providing essential information to governments, organizations, and the media, and working towards accountability and justice for victims. The Human Rights Officer will engage in research, analysis, and reporting on human rights issues, ensuring compliance with relevant standards and promoting national capacity building through training programs. The position requires a proactive approach to identifying human rights concerns and collaborating with various stakeholders to address these issues effectively.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Human Rights Officer will be responsible for a range of duties, including researching and collecting information on human rights issues, analyzing data to identify trends and gaps, and drafting reports and correspondence related to human rights matters. The officer will participate in hearings and consultations, maintain awareness of current human rights issues, and ensure compliance with standards for the protection and handling of information. Additionally, the officer will conduct training programs for law enforcement and civil society representatives, engage in advocacy efforts with authorities to prevent human rights violations, and liaise with various organizations to create baseline data on human rights situations. The role also involves designing and maintaining databases to track project progress and contributing to data analysis and visualization for informed decision-making.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a strong understanding of human rights issues, including their political, ethnic, racial, gender equality, and socio-economic dimensions. The role requires knowledge of the institutional mandates of human rights organizations and prevailing policies and procedures. Candidates should demonstrate research and analytical skills, the ability to draft human rights reports, and a commitment to gender perspectives in their work. Professionalism, effective communication, and strong planning and organizing skills are essential for success in this role.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in law or a related field is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree in the aforementioned fields, combined with two additional years of qualifying work experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. This educational background ensures that candidates have the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge to address complex human rights issues effectively.

Experience:
A minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, political affairs, international relations, law, or a related area is required. Candidates should have at least one year of experience in human rights and/or International Humanitarian Law data analytics or a related field. Experience conducting interviews with victims and witnesses of human rights violations is also desirable, as it demonstrates the candidate's ability to engage with affected individuals and gather critical information.

Languages:
English is required as it is one of the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Proficiency in Ukrainian and/or Russian is desired but not mandatory. This language requirement ensures effective communication within the UN system and with local stakeholders, enhancing the officer's ability to perform their duties effectively.

Additional Notes:
This position is exclusively open to candidates with Norwegian citizenship. The role is full-time and involves working within the framework of NORCAP's international assignments. The organization offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including access to a network of humanitarian, peace, and development professionals, and eligibility for NORCAP membership and future assignments based on performance. All offers are subject to reference and background checks, and candidates must provide an approved Health Certificate before contract commencement. Feedback will be provided to all applicants within four weeks after the closing date of the advertisement.