HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER, P3, 4 February 2015-5 April 2015,

Closing date: Sunday, 5 April 2015

Posting Title: HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER, P3

Job Code Title: HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER

Department/ Office: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Duty Station: GENEVA

Posting Period: 4 February 2015-5 April 2015

Job Opening number: 15-HRI-OHCHR-40134-R-GENEVA (X)

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Special Notice

Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

Organizational Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the incumbent will work in the Human Rights Treaties Division, under the general supervision of the Director of the Human Rights Treaties Division and the direct supervision of one of the Chiefs of Section.

Responsibilities

Under the general supervision of the Director of the Human Rights Treaties Division and the direct supervision of one of the Chiefs of Section, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

• Performs any tasks as required in the capacity of Special assistant to the Director of the Division;
• Provides Secretariat support to the following human rights treaty bodies as required: Human Rights Committee, Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Committee on the rights of Persons with Disabilities, Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Committee against Torture, Committee on the Rights of the Child, Committee on Migrant Workers, Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Committee on Enforced Disappearances and Meeting of the Chairpersons of human rights treaty bodies, Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture;
• Prepares country analyses and draft lists of issues for State reports to be examined by human rights treaty bodies; Services the meetings of treaty bodies;
• Drafts concluding observations under the State reporting procedure;
• Participates in training activities on the work of treaty bodies;
• Services meetings of those committees that are mandated to examine individual complaints and inquiries;
• Drafts summaries of incoming complaints and inquiries, recommendations for decisions on interim measures of protection as well as final decisions on the merits of complaints;
• Carries out research into and drafts reports on the jurisprudence of the treaty bodies concerned and prepare legal analyses;
• Helps to ensure the consistency and the coherence of the jurisprudence of the treaty bodies and contributes to the continuous strengthening of the treaty bodies;
• Provides support to the Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture (UNVFVT), the UN Voluntary Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery (UNVFCFS) and the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) Special Fund through the management of the full cycle of grantees projects as required and supporting meetings of the Board of Trustees.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM

• Good knowledge of and exposure to a range of human rights issues;
• Good knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines related to human rights in particular:
• treaty body monitoring mechanisms and/or treaty based complaints procedures;
• Good analytical and research skills, including ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources;
• 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 intereprets 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 the audience;
• Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

PLANNING AND ORGANISING

• 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.

TEAMWORK

• Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals;
• Solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise, is 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.

Education

• An advanced university degree in law, political science, international relations preferably with specialization in human rights 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.

Work Experience

• At least 5 years of progressively responsible work experience at national and international levels in the human rights or related fields.

Languages

• Fluency in English or French and knowledge of the other is required.
• Knowledge of other UN official languages is an advantage.

Assessment Method

• Fluency in English or French and knowledge of the other is required.
• Knowledge of other UN official languages is an advantage.

United Nations Considerations

Job openings posted on the Careers Portal are taken off at midnight (New York time) on the deadline date.

Applications are automatically pre-screened according to the published evaluation criteria of the job opening on the basis of the information provided by applicants. Applications cannot be amended following submission and incomplete applications shall not be considered. The selected candidate will be subject to a reference checking process to verify the information provided in the application.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the At-a-Glance on 'The Application Process' and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on 'Manuals' on the upper right side of the browser on Inspira.

The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS' BANK ACCOUNTS.