Human Rights Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The position is located in the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator (UNRC) in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The UNRC plays a crucial role in coordinating the efforts of the United Nations in the country, ensuring that human rights are integrated into the UN's programs and activities. The UNRC operates under the guidance of the Regional Representative in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Regional Office for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in Nassau, the Bahamas. The UNRC's mission is to promote sustainable development, peace, and human rights across the Caribbean region, working collaboratively with various stakeholders to achieve these goals. The organization is committed to upholding international norms and standards, fostering national capacities, and ensuring that human rights are a common value within the UN system.

Job Overview:
The Human Rights Officer will be responsible for supporting the UNRC and the UN Country Team (UNCT) in integrating human rights into their programs and activities. This includes working on the Multi-Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (MSDCF) for the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean and other strategic planning tools. The officer will build UNCT capacities to apply a human rights-based approach, conduct situational assessments, and facilitate country-level coordination. The role also involves advising the UNRC and UNCT on strategies to strengthen national capacities for the promotion and protection of human rights, ensuring that human rights are upheld as a UN common value through advocacy and awareness-raising efforts. The officer will engage with international human rights mechanisms, support national partners, and provide training and technical assistance to government and stakeholders to enhance their capacity for human rights promotion and protection.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Human Rights Officer will perform a variety of duties, including:

• Supporting the UNRC and UNCT in integrating human rights into their programs and activities, particularly the MSDCF.
• Advising on strategies to build national capacities for human rights promotion and protection.
• Facilitating access to human rights expertise and resources.
• Promoting human rights as a common value within the UN system.
• Advising on integrating human rights in humanitarian responses and post-crisis recovery efforts.
• Engaging with international human rights mechanisms, including the Universal Periodic Review and Treaty Bodies.
• Coordinating UNCT contributions to human rights recommendations and supporting country missions of Special Procedures mandate holders.
• Providing advice, training, and technical assistance to national stakeholders to strengthen their capacity for human rights promotion.
• Performing other related duties as required.

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 and prevailing policies and procedures. Research and analytical skills are essential, including the ability to identify and resolve human rights issues. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to evaluate and integrate information from various sources and assess its impact on the human rights situation in the area of assignment. Professionalism, effective communication, and teamwork skills are crucial for success in this role.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in law, political science, international relations, or a related field is preferred. 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 (5) years of progressively responsible experience at the national and international levels in the field of human rights is required. This experience should include development and/or humanitarian work. Desirable experience includes working within the United Nations common system or governmental entities related to international human rights standards, as well as familiarity with national laws and policies in accordance with international human rights standards.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position, as English is one of the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of French is also beneficial, as it is another working language of the UN.

Additional Notes:
This position is temporarily available until 31st October 2025, with the possibility of extension subject to the availability of funds. Candidates must be nationals of Trinidad and Tobago to apply for this position. Current staff members holding a fixed-term, permanent, or continuing appointment may apply for temporary positions no more than one level above their current grade. The position is subject to various eligibility requirements, including those related to the recruitment process and the age of separation for staff members. The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, and reasonable accommodations may be provided for applicants with disabilities.