HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER

Org. Setting and ReportingThis position is located within the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). The Human Rights Officer will be based in the Baghdad Office and will report to the Chief Human Rights Officer. ResponsibilitiesWithin delegated authority, the Human Rights Officer will be responsible for the following duties: • Monitors, documents and reports on the human rights situation of women and of members of minority communities in Iraq and keeps abreast of developments in these areas. • Designs and implements strategies to promote and protect the rights of women and minorities. • Coordinates and establishes working relationships with counterparts of the UN system, other international and national organizations including national human rights institutions, civil society organizations and government bodies working on the rights of minorities, women's rights and gender issues. • Supports the implementation of relevant recommendations from UN human rights mechanisms. • Reviews relevant existing and draft legislation with the aim of promoting and protecting the rights of women and minorities, and keeps abreast of developments that may impact on that legal framework. • Researches, collects, verifies, analyses and synthesizes significant amounts of information of relevance to human rights, including from open sources; • Reaches out to various UN actors to collect and analyze information of relevance to human rights; • Advocates with relevant authorities and other influential actors to stop or prevent human rights violations; Seeks remedial action by the authorities to prevent similar violations from occurring in the future; • Liaises with appropriate national authorities, civil society, UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes with complementary mandates, and other relevant partners to monitor developments in the human rights situation and, if needed, support the creation of baseline data; • Monitors the legal systems and their compliance with international human rights instruments and, where appropriate, advises relevant authorities, including on the implementation of recommendations by UN human rights bodies; • Develops and, where appropriate, coordinates initiatives to strengthen the response to systematic and/or emerging patterns of human rights violations and abuses, including in relation to conflict-related sexual violence; • Conducts, and where necessary supervises, investigations of human rights and international humanitarian law violations; • Drafts, reviews as appropriate, and ensures timely delivery of a variety of reports, briefings and other types of communications in compliance with established standards; • Formulates recommendations and suggests strategies to better promote and protect human rights in the mission area; • Contributes to the mainstreaming of human rights in the formulation and implementation of projects and programmes of the UN peace mission and UN agencies at country and local level; • Represents the UN human rights programme at working-level meetings; • Contributes to the integration of human rights in humanitarian action, through participating or coordinating emergency preparedness and response activities, including in the work of the Protection Cluster, as appropriate; • Works directly with other UN peace operation components/sections to integrate human rights considerations into the planning and review of their programs and operations; • Supports and coordinates human rights capacity building efforts for civil society and state authorities, to promote the protection of human rights, including through providing technical assistance; • Supports national authorities in their implementation and coordination of activities relating to the recommendations by UN Treaty Bodies, Special Procedures and other mechanisms of the UN Human Rights Council; • Designs, as appropriate, delivers and evaluates human rights training programmes for national officials, civil society representatives, human rights non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other national stakeholders; • Contributes to the establishment of transitional justice dialogues or processes and advises national counterparts on accountability and compensation mechanisms, as appropriate; • Ensures, and where relevant supervises, the timely entry of accurate and verified human rights cases into an established database in compliance with established standards; • Contributes to the integration of gender perspectives/considerations and specific women/girls' rights issues in all activities and for the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; • Integrates UN-developed methodology into human rights monitoring, reporting and investigation activities; • Ensures cooperation and appropriate communication with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in the establishment of policies and sharing of best practices; • Represents the human rights component in decision-making fora at the working level; • Maintains effective working relationships with other UN and non-UN actors, national authorities, donors and other stakeholders for effective policy coordination; • Defines the work plan for an assigned geographic area in accordance with established terms of reference; • Manages or supports the management of technical cooperation projects; • Supports more senior staff and/or team leaders in staffing, planning and budgeting as required; • Provides guidance and coaching to new or more junior staff; • Performs other related duties as required. CompetenciesProfessionalism: Knowledge of institutional mandates organizational structures and relevant human rights principles and methodologies relating to the promotion and protection of women's rights and the rights of minorities. Capacity to maintain effective working relationships with other UN, NGO and government stakeholders. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; Solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; Places team agenda before personal agenda; Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. EducationAn advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in law, political science, international relations, social sciences or related area is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Job - Specific QualificationNot available. Work ExperienceA minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in the human rights field or closely related areas, including the protection of the rights of minorities, the protection of women rights, and the promotion of gender equality is required. A minimum of one (1) year of human rights monitoring, reporting is required. A minimum of (1) year of experience providing services in the field of Human Rights to or in a field operation of the United Nations Common System or a comparable international organization is required. Experience working with minority communities and documenting violations against ethnic and religious minorities is required. Experience in interviewing survivors of conflict related sexual and gender-based violence is required. Experience in the conducting of human rights investigations is desirable. Experience in capacity building activities for the protection and promotion of human rights is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Arabic is desirable. AssessmentEvaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview. Special Notice• This position is temporarily available until 31 December 2024. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. • While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. • Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. • This temporary job opening may be limited to \"internal candidates,\" who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. • Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. • Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as \"retirement.\" Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. United Nations ConsiderationsAccording to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.