Human Rights Officer
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 activities and countering hate speech.
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 the human rights situation, engaging with authorities and stakeholders, and supporting the UN country team's human rights integration efforts. Key responsibilities include implementing transitional justice initiatives, countering hate speech, analyzing developments, providing technical advice, and contributing to reporting. The officer will conduct substantive monitoring of human rights and international humanitarian law, collect and analyze evidence-based information, and draft reports. This position directly contributes to accountability, early warning, and informed decision-making to address impunity and ensure human rights compliance.
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 accountability. Collect, document, and analyze evidence-based information on civil, cultural, economic, social, and political rights, identifying gaps and contributing to data sharing with gender and 'leave no one behind' perspectives. Draft, review, and disseminate human rights reports, briefings, and analytical papers to inform strategies and decision-making, integrating gender perspectives. Provide advisory support to civil society and UN leadership on integrating human rights into protection, rule of law, transitional justice, and accountability efforts. Promote transitional justice processes, including truth-seeking, prosecutions, and reparations, through advocacy and engagement. 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 data security.
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. Strategic thinking, collaborative work, and planning/coordination skills in a multi-stakeholder environment are essential. Knowledge of international human rights law, norms, standards, and regional/international mechanisms is required. Experience in human rights monitoring, documentation, analysis, research, reporting, and drafting reports is desirable.
Skills
Strategic thinking, collaboration, planning, organizing, coordination, 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.