Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Human Rights Division of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). The Human Rights Officer will be based in Bangui and reports to the Principal Human Rights Officer.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Human Rights Officer, P-3 will be responsible for the following duties: – Researches, collects, verifies, analyzes, and synthesizes significant amounts of information of relevance to human rights, including from open sources. – Reaches out to various UN actors to collect and analyze information for relevance to human rights. – Advocates with relevant authorities and other influential actors to stop or prevent human rights violations; seeks remedial action by authorities to prevent similar violations from occurring in the future. – Liaise with appropriate national authorities, civil society, UN Agencies, Funds and Programs with complementary mandates, and other relevant partners to monitor developments in the human rights situation, and if needed, supports the creation of baseline data. – Monitors the legal systems and their compliance with international human rights instruments and, where appropriate, advises relevant authorities, including on the implementation of recommendations by UN human rights bodies. – Develops and, where appropriate, coordinates initiatives to strengthen the response to systematic and/or emerging patterns of human rights violations and abuses, including in relation to conflict-related sexual violence. – Conducts, and where necessary supervises, investigations of human rights and international humanitarian law violations. – Drafts, reviews as appropriate, and ensures timely delivery of a variety of reports, briefings, and other types of communications in compliance with established standards. – Formulates recommendations and suggest 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 projects and programs of the UN peace mission and UN agencies at country and local level. – Represents the UN human rights program at working-level meetings. – Contributes to the integration of human rights in humanitarian action, through participating or coordinating emergency preparedness and response activities including in the work of protection cluster as appropriate. – Works directly with UN peace operation components/sections, including the police and military, to integrate human rights considerations into the planning and review of their programs and operations. – Supports and coordinates human rights capacity building efforts for civil society and state authorities, including military and police, to promote the protection of human rights, including through providing technical assistance. – Supports national authorities in the implementation and coordination of activities relating to the recommendations by UN Treaty Bodies, Special Procedures, and other mechanisms of the UN Human Rights Council. – Designs, as appropriate, delivers and evaluates human rights training programs for national officials/civil society representatives, human rights non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other national stakeholders. – Contributes to the establishment of transitional justice dialogues or processes and advises national counterparts on accountability and compensation mechanisms, as appropriate. – Provides technical assistance to national authorities on the establishment of vetting mechanisms, as mandated. – Ensures, and where relevant supervises, the timely entry of accurate and verified human rights cases into an established database in compliance with established standards. – Contributes to the integration of gender perspectives/considerations and specific women/girls ‘rights issues in all activities and for the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. – Integrates UN developed methodology into human rights monitoring, reporting and investigation activities. – Ensures cooperation and appropriate communication with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR) in the establishment of policies and sharing of the best practices. – Represents the human rights component in decision-making for a at the working level. – Maintains effective working relationship with other UN and non-UN actors, national authorities, donors, and other stakeholders for effective policy coordination. – Defines the work plan for an assigned geographic area in accordance with established terms of reference. – Manages or supports the management of technical cooperation projects. – Supports more senior staff and/or team leaders in staffing, planning, and budgeting as required. – Proposes, drafts, compiles and analyzes data, contributes to preparation of the Mission Results-Based Budget (RBB) framework, performance reports and other planning document, and of inputs as required for audits, budget monitoring and performance reporting. – Provides guidance and coaching to new or more junior staff. – Performs other related 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. Planning and organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required. Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. Uses time efficiently. 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.

Education

An advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in law, political science, international relations, social sciences, or in a related area 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.

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of five (5) years with a master’s degree or seven (7) years with a bachelor’s degree of progressively responsible experience in human rights field or closely related area, of which at least half should be in Human rights is required. Experience in the field of human rights in a conflict or post conflict location is required. Experience in Human Rights investigations, monitoring, reporting, capacity building, transitional justice is required. Practical experience using monitoring, planning and evaluation tools, including digital tools is required. Experience with child protection and conflict related sexual violence is desirable.

Languages

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

Assessment

Previously rostered candidates are not subject to any further assessment and as such, will not be invited for such an assessment.

Special Notice

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. This “Recruit from Roster” job opening is only open to roster applicants who are already placed on pre-approved rosters, following a review by a United Nations Central Review Body. Only roster applicants who were placed on rosters with similar functions at the same level are considered to be eligible candidates. Eligible applicants receive an email inviting them to apply. Rostered applicants are encouraged to apply only if they are interested and available to take up the position at the duty station/s specified in the Job Opening. Applying to this job opening carries an expectation to accept the offer, if selected.

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. 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 carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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.