SENIOR HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER

Organizational Context

This Senior Human Rights Officer position is based in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Regional Hub for East and Southern Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The role operates under the delegated authority of the Regional Director, to whom the incumbent reports. The position is integral to the regional human rights mandate and scope.

Job Purpose

The Senior Human Rights Officer provides strategic oversight and expert guidance to advance human rights within the East and Southern Africa region. This role is crucial for ensuring the quality and impact of OHCHR's work, including the drafting of reports, analysis of human rights situations, and the development of strategies. The incumbent will lead efforts to integrate human rights principles into various frameworks, support national counterparts in legislative reforms, and strengthen human rights systems. Furthermore, the position plays a key role in capacity-building, resource mobilization, advocacy, and partnerships, contributing significantly to the promotion and protection of human rights and the achievement of the Office's goals in the region.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic oversight and final clearance for human rights reports, briefings, and communications, ensuring legal analysis and the preparation of papers to inform strategies and decision-making. Exercise senior-level oversight of information collection, verification, and analysis, ensuring data quality and methodological compliance, with integrated gender and 'leave no one behind' perspectives. Offer authoritative advice and institutional oversight for technical support to national counterparts on legislation and security sector reform aligned with international norms. Guide national and regional counterparts in strengthening human rights systems, institutions, and frameworks. Oversee human rights capacity-building programs for various stakeholders. Ensure human rights mainstreaming into political, peace, security, humanitarian, development, and economic processes. Represent the human rights function in senior management and UN coordination forums. Develop strategies for protection of civilians, conflict-related sexual violence, and child protection. Provide guidance on support to treaty bodies, special procedures, and commissions of inquiry. Oversee research, analysis, and policy advice on economic policy and sustainable development concerning human rights. Advise on preventing and combating racism, xenophobia, and discrimination. Steer resource mobilization, advocacy, partnerships, and communication strategies. Manage team activities, resources, and ensure compliance with confidentiality and data privacy standards.

Work Experience

A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in human rights or related fields (e.g., political affairs, law, development) is required. Experience in strategic thinking, planning, organizing, and coordinating in multi-stakeholder environments is essential. Skills in integrating a human rights-based approach, gender equality, and 'leave no one behind' principles are necessary. Knowledge of regional and international human rights mechanisms is required.

Skills

Strategic thinking, Planning and Organizing, Teamwork, Professionalism, Judgment and Decision-Making, Managing Performance, Working collaboratively, Ability to build and maintain partnerships, Critical thinking, Knowledge of regional and international human rights mechanisms, Integration of human rights-based approach, gender equality, and 'leave no one behind' principles.

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