Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Human Rights Office in the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), Baghdad. The Associate Human Rights Officer reports to the Senior Human Rights Officer.

Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Head of the Human Rights Office Baghdad, the Associate Human Rights Officer will be responsible for performing the following duties:
• Researches, collects, verifies, analyses, and synthesizes significant amounts of information, including from open sources of relevance to human rights in the designed mission area.
• Participates in discussions with relevant authorities and other influential actors with a view to stop or prevent human rights violations and seeks remedial action by the authorities and prevents similar violations from occurring in the future.
• Assists in liaising with appropriate local and national authorities, civil society, UN agencies, Funds and Programmes with complementary mandates, and other relevant partners to monitor the human rights situation and related political and security developments.
• Monitors the national legal systems and their compliance with international human rights instruments, as well as the implementation of recommendations by UN human rights bodies.
• Assists in the development of initiatives to strengthen the response to systematic and/or emerging patterns of human rights violations and abuses.
• Participates in the investigation of human rights and international humanitarian law violations.
• Drafts variety of reports, briefings, and other types of communications relating to human rights matters in compliance with established standards.
• Contributes to the formulation of meaningful recommendations and strategies to better promote and protect human rights in the mission area.
• Contributes to the mainstreaming of human rights in the formulation and implementation of activities of the UN mission and agencies, as relevant.
• Supports the integration of human rights in humanitarian action, through participation in emergency preparedness and response activities, including in the work of the Protection Cluster, as appropriate.
• Works directly with other UN peace operation components/sections to integrate human rights considerations in their respective activities.
• Assists in supporting human rights capacity-building efforts for civil society and state authorities, including for aligning, legislative and rule of law reforms with international human rights norms and for the state to meet international human rights law obligations.
• Supports national authorities in their implementation of recommendations by UN Treaty Bodies, Special Procedures, and other mechanisms of the UN Human Rights Council.
• Participates in the design, delivery, and evaluation of human rights training programs for national officials, civil society representatives, human rights non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other national stakeholders in order to build national capacities.
• Ensures the timely entry of accurate and verified cases of human rights violations into a database in compliance with established standards.
• Contributes to the integration of gender perspectives/considerations and specific women/girls’ rights issues in all activities and to the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Integrates UN-developed methodology in human rights monitoring, reporting, and investigation activities.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: 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 situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Communication: Speaks and writes in English and the local languages 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.

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 (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, political science, social sciences or related field is required. A first-level university degree with a combination of two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience at the national level in the human rights field is required.

Experience in human rights monitoring, reporting, and capacity building is required.

Experience in supporting national authorities and engaging with civil society for the promotion and protection of women’s rights is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English and Arabic is required.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

• This position is temporarily available until 17 August 2023. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.
• Recruitment against this position is on a local basis. Candidates for positions in the National Professional Officer categories must be nationals of Iraq.
• The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.
• Locally recruited General Service staff members applying for this post must meet the minimum requirements, including academic qualifications and years of relevant experience. Relevant experience in the General Service category at G-6 and G-7 levels may count towards experience requirements.

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.

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.