Human Rights Officer (TJO)

The Human Rights Officer is responsible for planning and coordinating activities related to civic space and people's participation, monitoring implementation of human rights instruments, supporting treaty bodies, preparing reports, and liaising with UN and civil society organizations in Colombia. The role includes training military and police on human rights and supervising junior staff.

Responsibilities

• Plans and coordinates activities related to the Civic Space and People´s Participation strategy ensuring close coordination and teamwork with all parts of the Office.
• Reviews, monitors and evaluates activities relating to the implementation of international human rights instruments, including recommendations of treaty bodies and mechanisms of the Human Rights Council specifically related with the right to participation and to promote a safe and enabling environment for civil society and Human Rights Defenders (HRDs).
• Supports the work of treaty-established bodies and extra-conventional mechanisms and special procedures.
• Prepares relevant human rights parts of reports for the General Assembly, Human Rights Council (HRC), etc. notes on the status of ratification of human rights instruments, etc.
• Meets regularly with the peacekeeping team including UN staff, national officials as well as State institutions and civil society organization to plan projects and review project activities.
• Works with UN and non-governmental programmes in Colombia to integrate human rights, including their gender dimensions in their programs; helps design and implements the human rights program and designs the organization and focus of the evaluation.
• Ensures up-to-date information regarding substantive matters in the field of human rights and makes recommendations on actions to take.
• Makes contact with other sectors of the UN, the Inter-american System for Human Rights, national and international civil society organizations and State institutions on coordination and policy matters; brief representatives and provides, as appropriate suggestions and recommendations.
• Assists country military and police to develop and implement a training program in the field of human rights, international humanitarian law, democracy and the rule of law, with attention to gender perspectives.
• Serves as team leader with responsibility for carrying out, in consultation with the Deputy Representative, work coordination and administrative functions relating to the staff, planning and budget.
• Trains and supervises new/junior staff.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in law, political science, international relations, social sciences or related field is required.
• 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 minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, political affairs, international relations, law or related area is required.
• Experience in human rights monitoring, analysis, advocacy and reporting is desirable.
• Experience working with human rights defenders is desirable.
• English is required at UN Level III proficiency in reading, writing, listening and speaking.
• Spanish is required at UN Level III proficiency in reading, writing, listening and speaking.

Skills

• Human Rights Monitoring
• Human Rights Advocacy
• Human Rights Reporting
• International Law
• Political Affairs
• International Relations
• Legal Analysis
• Treaty Body Support
• Training Delivery
• Civil Society Engagement
• Report Preparation
• Staff Supervision
• Civic Space Coordination
• People's Participation
• Spanish Language
• English Language

Languages

English, Spanish