Human Rights Officer

Org. Setting and ReportingThe United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti BINUH was established by Security Council resolution 2476 and is mandated to promote and strengthen political stability and good governance, including the rule of law, preserving, and advancing a peaceful and stable environment, supporting an inclusive inter Haitian national dialogue, and protecting and promoting human rights in Haiti. This position is located in the Human Rights Section within the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti, BINUH, Port-au-Prince. Duties contribute to the mandate implementation of the mission and of OHCHR through the promotion and protection of human rights including representing at technical level the mission on human rights matters; managing and conducting human rights monitoring and reporting and investigations of human rights and humanitarian law violations; designing and implementing activities for building the capacity of State officials and of civil society and providing technical advice to national and local authorities to implement recommendations for compliance with human rights treaties; carrying out advocacy for human rights protection and of protection of civilians; taking responsibility for referral of individual cases to relevant UN or other international, national or local partner services i.e. legal or medical aid, protection, access to justice, etc. advising on integrating human rights in mission activities and response including in relation to protection of civilians concerns and in humanitarian crisis contexts. As team leaders and/or field offices coordinators, duties include the managing human rights component area work plan and monitoring its implementation; integrating gender in all activities; supporting the Chief of the component in administering resources and conducting recruitment and assessment of staff. The incumbent reports to the Team leader of Monitoring and Investigation Unit. Responsibilities- Researches, collects, verifies, analyzes and synthesizes significant amounts of information of relevance to human rights, including from appropriate national authorities, civil society, UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes with complementary mandates, other relevant partners, and open sources, and inputs verified information into human rights database according to UN methodology. - 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, supports 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 violations and abuses. - Drafts, reviews as appropriate, and ensures timely delivery of a variety of reports, briefings, recommendations, strategies, and other types of communications in compliance with established standards. - 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. - Contributes to the integration of human rights in humanitarian action, through participating or coordinating emergency preparedness and response activities. - Supports and coordinates human rights capacity building efforts for civil society and state authorities, including military and police, 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. - Provides technical assistance to national authorities on the establishment of vetting mechanisms, as mandated. - Contributes to the integration of gender perspectives/considerations and specific children’s rights issues in all activities and for the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. - 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. - 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. CompetenciesProfessionalism: 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. 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. 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. EducationAn advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in law, political science, international relations, social sciences, or in a related area. 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 (5) five years of progressively responsible experience in the human rights field or closely related areas, of which at least half should be in human rights 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. Experience implementing technical cooperation projects is desirable. Experience in working for a law enforcement institution in Haiti is desirable. 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 desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in French, (both oral and written) is required; knowledge of the English is desirable. AssessmentEvaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview. Special NoticeCandidates for the National Professional Officer category shall be of the nationality of the country where this position is located. 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.