Human Rights Officer
Organizational Context
This position is within the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Regional Hub for East and Southern Africa, located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Human Rights Officer reports to the Regional Director or their designate, contributing to the OHCHR's mandate in the region.
Job Purpose
The Human Rights Officer serves as an early warning and prevention team lead, developing and implementing strategies to address human rights protection needs through monitoring and missions. The role involves analyzing emerging human rights concerns, producing information products, and contributing to global prevention processes. The officer acts as an emergency response capacity, reviews human rights instrument implementation, and supports UN and non-governmental programs in integrating human rights, including gender dimensions. They also build capacity among national and international partners and may lead teams, manage staff, and oversee planning and budgets related to their responsibilities.
Responsibilities
Key responsibilities include leading early warning and prevention efforts, conducting analysis, and identifying preventative measures for human rights protection. This involves remote monitoring, in-country missions, and feeding analysis into global prevention processes. The role requires acting as an emergency response capacity for humanitarian crises, reviewing the implementation of international human rights instruments, and researching emerging human rights concerns. The officer will guide the development of analytical human rights information products, prepare reports for international bodies, and serve as a team leader responsible for coordination, staff management, planning, and budgeting. Collaboration with UN programs, NGOs, and country leads to integrate human rights, including gender dimensions, is essential. Additionally, the role involves making recommendations on human rights matters, coordinating with various stakeholders, building capacity of national partners, and supervising junior staff.
Work Experience
A minimum of seven years of progressive experience in human rights, political affairs, international relations, or law is required. Experience in coordinating human rights programs with an information management focus and in human rights risk analysis, prevention, or strategic foresight is also required. Field experience in emergency or humanitarian settings, particularly in conflict or post-conflict environments, is desirable.
Skills
Professionalism, knowledge of human rights issues and prevention strategies, ability to analyze complex human rights problems, understanding of institutional mandates, planning and organizing, technological awareness, and the ability to integrate gender perspectives into work.