Human Rights Officer position is available in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Field Operations and Technical Cooperation Division (FOTCD). The incumbent will be based in New York and reports to the Chief of the Peace Missions Support Section (PMSS).

Key Responsibilities

• Conducts substantive research and analysis of human rights issues/events and assesses their impact on the human rights situation in assigned region or country;
• Provides input to policy and guidance relevant to human rights components in peace missions, for instance on protection of civilians, human rights due diligence on UN support to non-UN forces
• Collects and analyses human rights data and indicators in country/region of assignment, including gender-specific data and indicators;
• Facilitates information sharing among human rights components of peace operations, for instance organising and participating in coordination meetings
• Evaluates requirements, plans and supports established human rights components and supports the conceptualisation and planning of new operations, as well as mandate revisions and mission transitions;
• Participates in the organization of regular meetings of heads of human rights components;
• Supports Geographic Desk Officers in responding to requests for substantive assistance and operational support
• Furthermore, contributes to the identification and vetting of human rights staff for peace operations

Qualifications and Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, political affairs, international relations or human rights related area is required. 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.
• Moreover, a minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, political affairs, international relations, law or related field
• A minimum of two years of field experience working in human rights functions including monitoring and reporting is desirable.
• Experience in the strategic planning of field operations is desirable.
• Similarly, experience working at supporting UN field operations in a main UN Office is desirable.
• Experience contributing to policy development and in the provision of guidance for policy implementation in peace operations settings is desirable.
• Above all, fluency in English (both oral and written)
• Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable.