Associate Human Rights Officer (TJO)

The Associate Human Rights Officer supports monitoring and implementation of international human rights and humanitarian law, collects and analyzes human rights data, drafts reports and policy documents, and provides substantive support to national and regional human rights systems. The role involves engagement with UN entities and civil society to integrate human rights into various frameworks and supports coordination related to protection of civilians and conflict-related issues.

Responsibilities

• Monitor the implementation of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, and support follow-up on recommendations from human rights mechanisms to advance compliance and accountability.
• Collect, document and analyse evidence-based information on civil, cultural, economic, social and political rights within assigned thematic or geographic areas to support analysis, early warning, accountability, and informed decision-making.
• Draft, review and contribute to human rights reports, briefings, legal and policy analyses and other communications, and prepare analytical papers that inform strategies, policies, programmes and decision-making.
• Collect, verify and analyse multi-source information on thematic and country-specific human rights situations, ensuring data quality and gender-responsive analysis.
• Provide substantive professional support to national and regional counterparts in strengthening human rights systems, institutions and frameworks.
• Support the integration of international human rights norms and standards into political, peace and security, humanitarian, development and economic frameworks and processes.
• Contribute to guidance and professional support to civil society actors on integrating human rights into protection, rule-of-law, development, transitional justice and accountability initiatives.
• Engage with UN entities, UN Country Teams, regional coordination mechanisms and development and economic actors to integrate human rights into policies, programmes and cooperation frameworks.
• Support analytical, coordination and planning work related to protection of civilians, conflict-related sexual violence and child protection.
• Provide research, coordination and follow-up support to treaty bodies, special procedures, the Universal Periodic Review and commissions of inquiry.
• Contribute to the collection and analysis of data and provide draft insights through data visualization methods for planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
• Maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion, ensuring compliance with UN data privacy and security requirements.
• Contribute to gender-focused sections of reports, studies, speeches and other written outputs for UN bodies and public communications.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in human rights, law, political science, international relations, social sciences, economics, public policy, sustainable development, humanitarian affairs or related field.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A first-level university degree and no experience will be accepted for candidates who have passed the Young Professionals Programme Examination (YPP), the United Nations National Competitive Recruitment Examination (NCRE) or the General Service to Professional Examination (G to P).
• A minimum of 2 years of experience in human rights or related areas is required.
• Relevant experience may include political affairs, public affairs, international relations, law, social sciences, economics, development, humanitarian affairs, or other related areas.
• Knowledge of international human rights law, norms, and standards is required.
• Ability to conduct legal analysis is required.
• Skills in drafting human rights reports, policy and other documents is required.
• Knowledge of regional and international human rights mechanisms is required.
• Knowledge of international humanitarian law and its application is desirable.
• Knowledge of human rights monitoring, documentation, analysis, research and reporting methodologies, including planning, coordinating and conducting field missions is desirable.
• Skill in collecting, processing, and analysing large volumes of unstructured and structured data is desirable.
• Knowledge of global and regional gender equality frameworks and instruments is desirable.
• English language proficiency at UN Level III in reading, writing, listening and speaking is required.
• French language proficiency at UN Level II in reading, writing, listening and speaking is desirable.

Skills

• International Human Rights Law
• Legal Analysis
• Human Rights Reporting
• Policy drafting
• Human Rights Monitoring
• Data Collection
• Data Analysis
• Field Mission Coordination
• International Humanitarian Law
• Human Rights Documentation
• Research Methodology
• Regional Human Rights Mechanisms
• International Relations
• Political Affairs
• Public Affairs
• Social Sciences
• Economics
• Humanitarian Affairs

Languages

English, French