Human Rights Officer (Tjo)
Organizational Context
This position is based in Yaounde, Cameroon, within the Regional Hub for Central and West Africa of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The role supports the Independent Expert for Central Africa Republic and reports to the Regional Director, operating within the Global Operations Division.
Job Purpose
The Human Rights Officer will conduct substantive monitoring of human rights and international humanitarian law implementation, following up on recommendations from human rights mechanisms. Responsibilities include collecting, documenting, and analyzing evidence-based information on various rights to inform early warning, response, and accountability. The role involves conducting field verification missions, drafting comprehensive reports, and preparing analytical papers to guide strategies and decision-making. Additionally, the officer will provide advisory and technical support to national counterparts, civil society, and non-State actors to strengthen human rights systems and integrate human rights norms into development policies. The position also entails designing and delivering capacity-building programs and engaging in human rights promotion through advocacy and outreach.
Responsibilities
Conduct monitoring of human rights and international humanitarian law, following up on recommendations from human rights mechanisms. Collect, document, and analyze evidence-based information on civil, cultural, economic, social, and political rights to support early warning, response, and accountability. Undertake human rights monitoring and field verification missions, drafting comprehensive reports and recommendations. Prepare analytical papers and communications, including legal analysis, to inform strategies, policies, and decision-making, with a focus on gender integration and inclusivity. Provide advisory and substantive support to national and regional counterparts to strengthen human rights systems and engagement with mechanisms. Design and deliver human rights capacity-building programs for various stakeholders. Offer technical support to integrate human rights into development policies and programs. Support treaty bodies, special procedures, and commissions of inquiry. Promote human rights through advocacy and outreach. Analyze data to identify trends and provide insights for planning and reporting.
Work Experience
Required experience includes skills in planning, organizing, and coordinating in a multi-stakeholder environment, knowledge of international human rights law, norms, and standards, and expertise in human rights monitoring, documentation, analysis, research, and reporting methodologies, including field missions. Knowledge of regional and international human rights mechanisms is also required. Desirable experience includes building partnerships, communicating complex matters to diverse audiences, and drafting human rights reports and policy documents.
Skills
Professionalism, research and analytical skills, ability to identify and resolve human rights issues, data collection and analysis, report drafting, evaluating and integrating information, understanding of institutional mandates, communication (clear and effective speaking/writing, active listening, tailoring messages), planning and organizing (goal setting, prioritization, time management, risk assessment).