Position description
Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the Human Rights Division (HRD) of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) with duty station, Juba. The incumbent reports to the Team leader of the Transitional Justice Unit, under the overall guidance and direction of the Director of the Human Rights Division (HRD).
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Human Rights Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
- Plans, coordinates and leads multidisciplinary teams in the conduct of investigations into alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in South Sudan in compliance with UN standards.
- Formulates recommendations and suggests strategies to better promote and protect human rights in the mission area, including for peace processes.
- Drafts, reviews, and coordinates the timely delivery of a variety of reports, briefings and other type of communications in compliance with established standards, including with regard to public human rights reports; Analyses and synthesizes significant amounts of information of relevance to human rights.
- Develops the methodology and tools to collect and process all data including for the identification of perpetrators and contributes to the development of human rights profiles of individuals involved in
- Formulates recommendations and suggests strategies to better promote human rights and transitional justice in the mission area, including for peace processes.
- Works directly with other UNMISS components, to integrate human rights and transitional justice considerations into the planning and review of their programs and operations, including through developing procedures and policies, as appropriate.
- Plans and coordinates technical support to the government for the establishment of transitional justice mechanisms as provided for in Chapter V of the R-ARCSS 2018, including the Commission on Truth, Reconciliation and Healings (CTRH).
- Designs and implements capacity building trainings on concepts of Transitional Justice at the national and state level for the benefit of the government, human rights institutions and civil society organizations.
- Coordinates strategic engagements with government institutions, national human rights institutions in support to the transitional justice and peace process.
- Establishes and maintains contact with national authorities, civil society, UN Agencies, Funds/ and Programmes with mandates on transitional justice, and other relevant partners to inform on progress and challenges and advises on strategic and policy issues to facilitate the establishment of transitional justice mechanisms.
- Contributes to the integration of gender perspectives/considerations and specific women/girls' rights issues in all transitional justice activities, programs and strategies.
- Facilitates cooperation and appropriate communication with OHCHR in the establishment of policies and sharing of best practices on the establishment of transitional justice mechanisms.
- Designs, coordinates and evaluates capacity building efforts, including those supporting institution-building and institutional reforms, for alignment with international human rights norms and to meet international human rights law obligations.
- Designs, delivers, coordinates and evaluates human rights training programs on transitional justice for national officials, civil society representatives, human rights non-governmental organizations (NGOs), National Human Rights Institutions and other national stakeholders.
- Coordinates with other UN mission components, UN actors and other regional and international organizations to create opportunities to integrate human rights and transitional justice into their training and cooperation programs, including those aiming at legislative, rule of law and security sector reforms.
Competencies
- PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of relevant human rights standards and exposure to a range of human rights issues including approaches and techniques to address sensitive and complex human rights problems in their political, ethnic, racial, gender and socio-economic dimensions. Knowledge of institutional mandates of human rights organizations, prevailing policies and procedures. Ability to train authorities and civil society organizations in investigating, reporting and advocacy. Ability to relate human rights issues and perspectives, including their gender equality dimensions, to political, social, economic and humanitarian Programmes. Ability to identify sources for data collection, research and analyze information and draft human rights reports. Ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess impact on the human rights situation in the area of assignment. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations; and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
- COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors’ language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
- TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
- PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
Education
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent degree) in law, political science, international relations, social sciences, information systems management or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
- A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in human rights monitoring and investigation, political affairs, international relations, law or related area is required A minimum of one (1) year of experience working in UN field locations is required. At least two years’ experience in leading and conducting human rights in-depth investigations and fact-finding missions in the field is required Experience in organizing capacity building activities and providing technical assistance to government, national human rights institutions and civil society organizations on human rights and transitional justice is required Experience in formulating recommendations and suggests strategies to better promote human rights and transitional justice in Peacekeeping Missions including for peace processes is required.
Languages
- English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required.Knowledge of Arabic is desirable.
Application instructions
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