Org. Setting and Reporting

The two (2) positions are located in the Human Rights Service of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). The Assistant Human Rights Officers will be based in the UNAMA Regional Office in Herat and the UNAMA Human Rights Service in Kabul, both supervised by Human Rights Officers/Team Leaders.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the incumbent will perform the following duties:

Assists in researching, collecting, verifying, analyzing and synthesizing significant amounts of information, including from open sources, of relevance to human rights in the designated mission area.

In consultation with the Human Rights Officer, assists in liaising with appropriate de facto authorities, civil society, UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes with complementary mandates, and other relevant stakeholders to monitor developments in the human rights situation.

Assists in the development of initiatives to strengthen the response to systematic and/or emerging patterns of human rights violations and abuses.

Attends meetings, including with local de facto authorities, the UN agencies, funds and programmes, civil society and human rights actors and raises awareness about human rights issues and concerns in the area of assignment including, inter alia, protection of civilians including right to life and physical integrity; economic, social and cultural rights; violence against women and girls; persons deprived of their liberty; children in armed conflict; human rights defenders including media workers; and the maintenance of civic space.

Assists in the fact-finding process of human rights and international humanitarian law violations.

Contributes to the implementation of activities that focus on the human rights situation of women and girls covering economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights, and on the elimination of violence against women, including monitoring, analysis, reporting and advocacy.

Carries out detention monitoring visits to detention centres including but not limited to de facto Police and Intelligence facilities, Provincial Prisons, and the Juvenile Rehabilitation Centre (JRC).

Provides inputs to variety of reports, briefings and other types of communications relating to human rights matters in compliance with established standards.

Participates in the formulation of meaningful recommendations and strategies to better promote and protect human rights in the mission area.

Participates in the mainstreaming of human rights in the formulation and implementation of the UN peace mission and UN agency activities at country and local levels.

Interacts with other UN peace operation components/sections, including the police and military, to integrate human rights considerations in their respective activities.

Interacts with UN agencies, funds and programmes operating in the area of responsibility, for information-sharing and to integrate human rights considerations in their respective activities.

Assists in supporting human rights discussions with de facto authorities, civil society and stakeholders on relevant international human rights norms and standards.

Organises and participates in field missions, aimed at implementing the objectives of the UNAMA human rights mandate.

Verifies and ensures the timely entry of cases of human rights violations into established databases, in compliance with established standards, and maintains required quality assurance standards.

Contributes to the Integration of gender perspectives/considerations and specific women/girls’ rights issues in all human rights monitoring, analysis, reporting, and advocacy.

Contributes to the implementation of activities that focus on the human rights situation of women and girls covering economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights, and on the elimination of violence against women, including monitoring, analysis, reporting and advocacy.

Integrates UN developed methodology in the human rights monitoring, reporting and investigation activities.

Performs other related duties, as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of human rights issues and ability to identify related problems in their political, ethnic, racial, gender equality and socio-economic dimensions. Knowledge of international human rights law standards and international humanitarian law. Good research and analytical skills, including ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess impact on the human rights situation in the area of assignment, and ability to identify and participate in the resolution of human rights issues. Ability to identify sources for data collection, analyze information and draft human rights reports. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges. Remains calm in stressful situation. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments. Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards. Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules. Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments. Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets 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.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s or Doctorate degree, or equivalent) in law, human rights, gender, political science, international relations, social sciences, humanities, economic or related fields is required. A first-level university degree in the specified fields of studies in combination with a one (1) year qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

As per the approved Special Measure for UNAMA, a minimum of one (1) year experience working with national and/or international human rights standards, instruments and mechanisms with relevant Bachelors degree is required.

Experience in human rights monitoring and reporting, and in raising awareness and building capacity for the promotion and protection of human rights, is required.

Experience in database management and data analytics is required.

Experience in developing, implementing and managing projects for communities at risk, or populations in vulnerable situation, is desirable.

Experience in assisting victims of human rights violations is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the positions advertised, fluency in oral and written English, Pashto and Dari is required.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise.

Special Notice

This position is temporarily available until 31 December 2023, with possibility of extension.

While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.

Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.

Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply.Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.

Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as “retirement.” Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places 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. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

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.