Human Rights Officer

Concerned with the security, humanitarian, human rights and political crisis in the Central African Republic and its regional implications, the Security Council authorized in April 2014 the deployment of a multidimensional United Nations peacekeeping operation, MINUSCA, with the protection of civilians as its utmost priority. Its other initial tasks included support for the transition process; facilitating humanitarian assistance; promotion and protection of human rights; support for justice and the rule of law; and disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation processes. The newly established mission subsumed the UN Integrated Peace building Office in the Central African Republic (BINUCA). MINUSCA current uniformed personnel levels stand at 11,650 military personnel and 2,080 police personnel, and are tasked with the strategic objective of creating the political, security and institutional conditions conducive to sustainably reducing the presence of — and threat posed by — armed groups. See http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/minusca/.

Assignment is renewable on an annual basis (1 July - 30 June) up to a maximum of 4 years. There is no expectation of automatic renewal. Contract renewals are granted based on Mission mandate, availability of budget, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. The duty station can change in the course of an assignment based on operational necessity; UN Volunteers may be required to work and travel anywhere in the area of operations of the host organization, including in remote locations.
The Human Rights Officer reports to the Team Leader of the Reporting, Planning, Analysis and Documentation Unit (1 position) or to the Team Leader of the Capacity building, Transitional Justice and Institutional Support Unit (1 position). Results/Expected Outputs: - Monitoring and reporting on human rights violations in the duty assigned according to the United Nations methodology accomplished; - Producing daily, weekly and monthly regular reports to the HRD done on time; - Participation in advocacy meetings and follow-up of cases with local authorities in order to fight against impunity completed; - Participation in activities aiming at strengthening the capacity of the local authorities in CAR met; - Capacity building activities conducted and documented.

The UN Volunteer Human Rights Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

A) Reporting duties:
- Collect and analyze information and data on the situation of human rights/international humanitarian law in the Central African Republic from field offices and units, taking into account the gender aspect;
- Draft and disseminate periodic reports (weekly, monthly & quarterly);
- Draft monthly code cables, contributions to Secretary -General reports;
- Draft weekly contributions for MINUSCA press conference and OHCHR Weekly Update;
- Draft press releases and other statements on human rights ;
- Draft thematic and ad hoc reports as required;

B) General human rights duties:
- Research and collect information pertaining to human rights matters, including their gender dimensions, from a variety of data sources; assists in the analysis of information, to include the impact on the human rights situation in CAR.
- Enter all cases on the human rights database according to human rights standards and its methodology.
- Maintain awareness of current human rights issues in the Region assigned to include relevant political and legal developments.
- Contribute to the identification of human rights issues/problems, including their gender dimensions, through good research and analysis and timely preparation of reports, etc.
- Liaise with government representatives, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations, UN agencies and other partners to create baseline data on the human rights situation in the Region assigned with special attention to vulnerable groups.
- Participate with other Human Rights Officers in discussions with relevant authorities and other influential actors with the aim of stopping or preventing human rights violations or seeks other remedial action by the authorities to prevent similar violations occurring in the future.
- Draft a variety of types of reports relating to human rights matters.
- Participate in human rights training programmes for national law enforcement officials, representatives of the civil society and human rights non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in order to promote national capacity building.
- Review human rights issues, including their gender dimensions, and participates in discussions with other Human Rights Officers on the integration of these issues into political, humanitarian and economic efforts and programmes.
- Contribute to formulating courses of action that aim to alleviate immediate and long-range human rights problems.
- Demonstrate effective interaction with colleagues and other concerned parties internally and externally.
- When working with (including supervising) national staff or (non-) governmental counterparts, the incumbent is strongly encouraged to set aside dedicated time for capacity development through coaching, mentoring and formal and on-the-job training.
- Perform other related duties as required by direct supervisor.