Adviser on Freedom of Religion or Belief

The Adviser on Freedom of Religion or Belief supports the OSCE's human rights mandate by advising, developing, and implementing programmatic activities related to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief. The role involves cooperation with OSCE structures, government counterparts, and civil society to promote human rights across the OSCE region.

Responsibilities

• Advising, developing, and implementing programmatic activities and projects on freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, in co-operation with OSCE structures, government counterparts and civil society.
• Designing, implementing, and evaluating capacity-building initiatives, training programmes, and field activities such as workshops, seminars, and dialogues.
• Liaising with OSCE field missions, human dimension focal points and implementing partners to collect, analyse, and exchange information supporting programme development and reporting.
• Preparing project proposals, budgets and donor reports, and maintaining accurate records in information management systems.
• Establishing and maintaining co-operation with government authorities, international organisations, and NGOs, and supervising experts and contractors engaged in programme delivery.
• Monitoring and analysing developments in the area of freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief across the OSCE region and advising management on priority areas, programmatic responses, and follow-up actions.
• Contributing to department-wide initiatives by providing expertise, feedback and support on cross-cutting activities, drafting materials and inter-departmental projects.

Requirements

• Second-level university degree in social sciences, international relations/political science, or law, with a specialisation in human rights preferred.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two years of additional qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of five years (seven years with a first-level university degree) of progressively responsible and relevant professional experience in the field of human rights, including experience at the international level in an advisory function.
• Knowledge of UN, Council of Europe, and OSCE human rights and equality standards, as well as human rights monitoring and reporting methodology and practice.
• Experience of designing and implementing projects.
• Established in-depth knowledge of the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief and of relevant international human rights standards.
• Experience working in or with the security sector is welcomed.
• Knowledge of the impacts of new technologies on freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief is an asset.
• Experience working with different actors from across religious or belief communities is welcome.
• Computer literate with practical experience in Microsoft applications.
• Excellent written and oral English; knowledge of Russian or other OSCE languages is an asset.
• Demonstrated gender awareness and ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities.
• Ability to work in a team and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.

Skills

• Human Rights Advisory
• International Human Rights Standards
• Freedom of Religion or Belief
• Human Rights Monitoring
• Human Rights Reporting
• Project Design
• Project Implementation
• Protection Sector Experience
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Gender Mainstreaming
• UN Human Rights Mechanisms
• Council of Europe Standards
• OSCE Human Rights Standards
• Interreligious Dialogue
• Policy Development

Languages

English