Human Rights Officer
Organizational Context
The Independent Institution on Missing Persons in the Syrian Arab Republic (IIMP) was established by the UN General Assembly in June 2023. This role is currently based in Geneva, Switzerland, but may be subject to relocation to Damascus, Syria, or another operational location. The incumbent reports to a Human Rights Officer within the Participation and Family Support Section.
Job Purpose
This Human Rights Officer role supports the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in the Syrian Arab Republic (IIMP). The purpose is to ensure victims, survivors, and families of missing persons are systematically integrated into the Institution's activities and communications. This involves coordinating engagement, developing referral networks for support services, and implementing feedback mechanisms. The role contributes to victim-centered approaches by preparing reports and analysis, and ensuring human rights and gender equality considerations are integrated into all relevant efforts. The position also involves research, data analysis, and potentially directing capacity-building initiatives.
Responsibilities
Coordinate engagement with victims, survivors, and families of missing persons, ensuring their views and needs are integrated into the Institution's activities. Support the development and maintenance of referral networks for legal, psychosocial, and other assistance. Implement tools and methods to strengthen participation and feedback mechanisms, including consultations. Contribute to reports, guidance materials, and analysis to ensure victim-centered engagement. Plan and coordinate human rights activities, including from a gender perspective. Conduct research and analysis of human rights issues and their impact. Collect and analyze human rights data, including gender-specific indicators. Ensure human rights and gender equality are integrated into political, humanitarian, and economic efforts. Define work plans and supervise field verification. Represent the UN human rights program in meetings. Direct capacity-building efforts. Write various reports and communications. Provide guidance to junior staff. Analyze data for trends and insights using visualization methods.
Work Experience
A minimum of five years of progressive experience in human rights, political affairs, international relations, or law is required. Direct experience engaging with victims and survivors of conflict and human rights abuses is mandatory. Experience in designing or implementing referral systems or coordinating service providers is also required. Experience with missing persons mandates and working in or on the Syrian Arab Republic are desirable.
Skills
Professionalism, research and analytical skills, data analysis and interpretation, ability to draft human rights reports, teamwork, client orientation, knowledge of human rights issues and institutional mandates, ability to integrate gender perspectives, communication skills.