HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER (TJO)

Organizational Context

This position is within the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), specifically with the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) based in Odesa. The incumbent will report to the Head of Mission and Field Team Leader, with functional supervision from the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Job Purpose

The Human Rights Officer will be responsible for planning and coordinating human rights activities, including thematic and country-specific mandates, with a focus on gender perspectives. This involves conducting in-depth research and analysis of human rights violations through interviews with victims and witnesses, gathering and corroborating allegations of violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, and assessing their impact. The role includes collecting and analyzing human rights trends, patterns, data, and indicators in Ukraine, with specific attention to gender-specific data. The officer will support UN human rights mechanisms, ensure human rights considerations are integrated into broader efforts, and represent the HRMMU in meetings. A key aspect is writing various reports, communications, and briefings for policy-making bodies, and potentially guiding junior staff.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include planning and coordinating human rights activities, ensuring gender perspectives are integrated into mandates. The role involves conducting substantive research and analysis of human rights violations, including through interviews with victims and witnesses, and corroborating allegations of violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. The officer will collect and analyze human rights trends, patterns, data, and indicators in Ukraine, including gender-specific information. Support will be provided to UN human rights mechanisms and other bodies, with follow-up on decision implementation. The position requires ensuring human rights issues and gender equality dimensions are integrated into political, humanitarian, and economic efforts. Defining work plans, supervising field verification through periodic visits, and representing the HRMMU at working-level meetings are also essential. The role includes writing various reports, communications, and briefings, and may involve guiding junior staff.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, political affairs, international relations, or law is required. Two years of experience in human rights monitoring is desirable, as is experience conducting interviews with victims and witnesses of human rights violations, and experience working in a conflict setting involving international humanitarian law.

Skills

Professionalism, teamwork, planning, and organizing are core competencies. Specific skills include knowledge of human rights issues, research and analytical abilities, data collection and analysis, report writing, and integrating gender perspectives. The ability to work collaboratively, manage time effectively, and remain calm under pressure is also important.

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