Human Rights Officer (TJO)

Organizational Context

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, monitors the human rights situation and supports national authorities and stakeholders to promote and protect human rights. The office also assists the UN country team in integrating human rights into their work. This role focuses on implementing transitional justice and countering hate speech activities.

Job Purpose

This Human Rights Officer position in Sarajevo is crucial for advancing the promotion and protection of human rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The role involves monitoring human rights developments, engaging with authorities and stakeholders, and providing technical advice. Key responsibilities include conducting substantive monitoring of human rights and international humanitarian law implementation, collecting and analyzing evidence-based information on various rights, and drafting reports. The officer will also provide advisory support to civil society and UN leadership on integrating human rights into protection, rule of law, transitional justice, and accountability efforts, actively promoting transitional justice processes and supporting mechanisms addressing impunity. The position contributes to early warning, informed decision-making, and ensuring human rights data is accessible and shared effectively, with a focus on gender and inclusivity.

Responsibilities

Conduct substantive monitoring of human rights and international humanitarian law implementation, following up on recommendations from human rights mechanisms and investigative findings to ensure compliance and advance accountability. Collect, document, and analyze evidence-based information on civil, cultural, economic, social, and political rights, contributing to analysis, early warning, response, and informed decision-making, ensuring data is discoverable, interoperable, and shared with gender and inclusivity perspectives. Draft, review, and disseminate human rights reports, briefings, and analytical papers to inform strategies, policies, and decision-making, integrating gender and leave-no-one-behind perspectives. Provide advisory support to civil society and UN leadership on integrating human rights into protection, rule of law, transitional justice, and accountability. Promote transitional justice processes through advocacy and engagement to address impunity. Support treaty bodies, special procedures, and commissions of inquiry through research and coordination. Engage in advocacy and outreach activities to promote human rights, maintaining confidentiality and integrity in handling sensitive information.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in human rights or related fields is required. This includes experience in political affairs, public affairs, international relations, law, social sciences, economics, development, or humanitarian affairs. Experience with strategic thinking, collaborative work, and planning/organizing in multi-stakeholder environments is necessary. Knowledge of international human rights law, norms, standards, and regional/international mechanisms is essential. Experience in human rights monitoring, documentation, analysis, research, reporting, and drafting reports is desirable.

Skills

Strategic thinking, collaborative work, planning, organizing, coordination in multi-stakeholder environments, knowledge of international human rights law, norms, and standards, knowledge of regional and international human rights mechanisms, communication of complex technical matters, human rights monitoring, documentation, analysis, research, reporting methodologies, drafting human rights reports and policy documents.

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