HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER

Organizational Context

This position is within the Regional Hub for Europe and Central Asia, Global Operations Division of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Vienna. The incumbent reports to the Director of the Regional Office and provides support to the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Afghanistan.

Job Purpose

The Human Rights Officer will advise the Special Rapporteur and the Secretariat on gender dimensions of human rights violations, integrating gender analysis into interviewing, evidence gathering, and reporting. The role involves documenting and analyzing cases of sexual and gender-based violence, monitoring human rights instrument implementation, and supporting human rights mechanisms. The officer will prepare reports for UN bodies, collaborate with UN and non-governmental programs to integrate human rights and gender perspectives, and provide recommendations on human rights matters. Additionally, the role includes assisting in training military and police on human rights and supervising junior staff.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include advising on the gender dimensions of human rights violations through analysis and evidence gathering. The role involves documenting, collecting, analyzing, and reporting on sexual and gender-based violence and other gender-based human rights abuses, ensuring the gender-specific impact is assessed. The officer will review and monitor the implementation of international human rights instruments and support treaty bodies and special procedures. Responsibilities also include preparing human rights reports for UN bodies, integrating human rights and gender perspectives into programs with UN and non-governmental partners, and making recommendations on human rights actions. The role further entails assisting in training military and police on human rights, international humanitarian law, democracy, and the rule of law, with a focus on gender perspectives, and supervising junior staff.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, political affairs, international relations, or law is required. Specific experience in providing gender analysis on human rights issues is also mandatory. Experience in interviewing victims and witnesses, particularly of sexual and gender-based violence, and supporting human rights mechanisms are desirable.

Skills

Professionalism, Teamwork, Planning and Organizing, knowledge of human rights issues, gender analysis, interviewing, report preparation, training, supervision, information evaluation and integration, problem-solving, and communication.

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