HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER

Organizational Context

This position is within the Office of the Human Rights Service of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). Based in Kabul, an 'E' hardship and non-family duty station, the Human Rights Officer reports to a Team Leader, under the guidance of a Senior Human Rights Officer and the direction of the Chief of Human Rights Service. UNAMA's mandate focuses on human rights work in Afghanistan.

Job Purpose

The Human Rights Officer supports the management and implementation of human rights work within UNAMA's Human Rights Service in Afghanistan. The role's purpose is to plan and coordinate activities related to thematic mandates, including the protection of civilians (right to life, physical integrity), rights of women, children, persons deprived of liberty, prevention of torture, and monitoring fundamental freedoms and economic, social, and cultural rights. This position integrates UN methodology into monitoring, reporting, and fact-finding, contributing to initiatives that strengthen responses to systematic human rights violations and abuses. The officer formulates meaningful recommendations and strategies to better promote and protect human rights in Afghanistan, aiming to stop or prevent violations, seek remedial action by de facto authorities, and prevent future occurrences. The role ensures the integration of human rights considerations into UNAMA's work, its field offices, and UN Regional/Country Teams, thereby contributing significantly to human rights protection and promotion in a complex environment.

Responsibilities

The Human Rights Officer supports the Team Leader in managing and implementing human rights work according to the UNAMA Human Rights Service workplan, including team management. Key duties involve planning and coordinating activities related to thematic mandates such as civilian protection, rights of women, children, and vulnerable groups, and monitoring fundamental freedoms, integrating a gender perspective. The officer integrates UN methodology into monitoring, reporting, and fact-finding; conducts substantive research and analysis of human rights issues; collects and analyzes human rights data, including gender-specific indicators. They contribute to developing initiatives to strengthen responses to violations, formulating recommendations and strategies for human rights promotion and protection in Afghanistan, aiming to prevent violations and seek remedial action. The role ensures human rights considerations are integrated into UNAMA's programs and partnerships, follows up on reported violations, and ensures accurate data entry into databases. Responsibilities also include coordinating data collection and analysis, preparing reports and presentations, and updating information materials. The officer organizes continuous exploratory meetings with de facto authorities for engagement and advocacy, conducts visits to detention facilities for constructive dialogue on deprivation of liberty and torture prevention, and raises awareness on international human rights standards. They draft various human rights products (reports, briefings), represent the Service at meetings, and may serve as Officer-in-Charge in the Team Leader's absence.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in human rights issues is required, particularly concerning civilian protection, right to life, liberty, and security of person. This includes at least two years in human rights fact-finding, documentation, and reporting in conflict/post-conflict settings within a UN or international organization outside the country of origin. Two years of experience leading and supervising multicultural teams is also required. Desirable experience includes coordinating inter-thematic collaborations, human rights case management, data analytics, analysis, reporting, and knowledge of the UNAMA Human Rights mandate with prior experience in Afghanistan.

Skills

Professionalism: Strong knowledge of human rights issues, international human rights law, and humanitarian law; good research and analytical skills; ability to identify and resolve human rights issues; data collection and report drafting. Accountability: Takes ownership, delivers outputs, complies with rules, supports subordinates, takes personal responsibility. Teamwork: Collaborates effectively, values input, learns from others, supports group decisions, shares credit. Managing Performance: Delegates appropriately, clarifies roles, monitors progress, provides feedback, encourages development.

Explore related opportunities