Human Rights Officer

  • Location:
  • Salary:
    negotiable / YEAR
  • Job type:
    VOLUNTEER
  • Posted:
    3 months ago
  • Category:
    Humanitarian and Crisis Response, Social and Inclusive Development
  • Deadline:
    23/02/2024

JOB DESCRIPTION

assignment(s)

Open recruitment (advertised)

Advertisement end date:23/02/2024

General

Description of assignment title

Human Rights Officer

Assignment country

Iraq

Expected start date

01/04/2024

Sustainable Development Goal

16. Peace, justice and strong institutions

Volunteer category

International UN Volunteer Specialist

Host entity

AMI

Type

Onsite

Duration

12 months (with possibility of extension)

Number of assignments

1

Duty stations

Mosul

Details

Mission and objectives

The United Nations has been assisting Iraq with the establishment of the Electoral Management Body (initially Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq, 2003, currently Independent High Electoral Commission), and the development of the institution´s capacities to administer electoral processes. Despite major military operations against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), in November 2017, the political and security environment in the country remains complex and unpredictable Regardless of the efforts on the development of technical capacities within IHEC over the years, public perception of the institution was declining, particularly after the 2018 legislative elections. Since October 2019 the country has experienced major public unrest through continuous demonstrations and sit-ins in Baghdad and all over the country. Amongst demands for better delivery of public services, Iraqi street protests also called for government reforms, and organization of early elections – elections to be held before the normally expected date which would be the end of the current legislature, in May 2022.

Context

* Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including civil society organizations, grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; * Excellent verbal and written communication skills; * Experience working in a conflict or post-conflict environment; * Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel; * Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; * Sound security awareness;

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the overall supervision of the Chief, UNAMI Human Rights Office or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the International UN Volunteer Human Rights Officer will: • Conduct proactive outreach and relationship-building through individual meetings and focus groups with demonstrators and activists of different ages and genders; members of organizing committees; representatives of political and civil society organizations involved in the protests as well activists with no such affiliation; journalists, doctors and others actively involved in either participating in demonstrations or promoting the goals of the protesters particularly through social media; • Conduct human rights monitoring interviews with victims of arbitrary and incommunicado detention, abduction, torture and enforced disappearance; • Undertake monitoring visits to places of detention; • Proactively monitor all forms of traditional and new media, including social media, in order to monitor threats and intimidation against those participating in or supporting protests; • Through individual and group meetings with community leaders, victims’ representatives and civil society organizations develop and deepen existing information gathering networks within the communities affected by disappearances; • Support OHCHR/UNAMI engagement with relevant United Nations Treaty Body mechanisms and Special Procedures mandate holders, including facilitating the submission of Urgent Appeals and Urgent Actions on behalf of victims of arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances and torture; • Engage with government and non-governmental organizations to support the submission of state reports and stakeholder reports to UN human rights mechanisms and treaty bodies dealing with torture and enforced disappearance • Draft, review as appropriate, and ensure timely delivery of a variety of reports, briefings, analysis and other types of communications in compliance with established standards; • Ensure the timely entry of accurate and verified human rights cases into an established database in compliance with established standards; • Performs other duties as required.

Eligibility criteria

Age

27 – 80

Nationality

Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Requirements

Required experience

3 years of experience in National and/or international level in the fields of human rights protection, international humanitarian law, or other relevant fields is required; experience of conducting human rights interviews with vulnerable victims is desirable. Experience of OHCHR methodologies on human rights monitoring reporting and investigation is desirable;

Area(s) of expertise

Crisis and emergency response

Driving license

Languages

English, Level: Fluent, Required Arabic, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level

Master degree or equivalent in Human Rights, law, political science, international relations, social sciences

Competencies and values

– Adaptability and Flexibility; – Commitment to Continuous Learning; – Communication; – Integrity; – Planning and Organizing; – Professionalism; – Working in Teams.

Other information

Living conditions and remarks

Mosul is a Category E hardship duty station and are non-family duty station. The current Rest and Recuperation Cycle is 4 weeks. Movement of international staff is restricted and takes place in UN vehicles. Working for the UN in Iraq provides an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere. As this is an international UN Volunteer specialist assignment, the HE will be responsible for arranging volunteer housing. International UN Volunteers receive a volunteer living allowance to sustain a basic, adequate, and safe lifestyle. This allowance varies from one location to another depending on local living costs, but all International UN Volunteers specialists in the same location receive the same allowance. Below is a summary of the Conditions of Service. Allowances The purpose of allowances for international UN Volunteers specialists is to enable the international UN Volunteers to sustain a modest and secure standard of living at the duty station. The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward, or salary in exchange for volunteer work. Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA): All international UN Volunteers specialists are entitled to a monthly volunteer living allowance of USD 3,500.00 The purpose of this allowance is to cover the basic living costs of the international UN Volunteer. The allowance is to ensure that the volunteer can sustain a basic, adequate, and safe lifestyle. The monthly allowance rate is a fixed rate for the duty station as established by UNV headquarters.

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements

Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy

This job has expired.