Victims' Rights Officer

Mission and objectivesUnder Resolution 2677 (2023), the Security Council determined that the situation in South Sudan continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security in the region. The Council extended the UNMISS mandate until 15 March 2024. It also emphasized that the Mission should continue advancing its three-year strategic vision defined in resolution 2567 (2021) to prevent a return to civil war, build durable peace and support inclusive, accountable governance as well as free, fair and peaceful elections in accordance with the Revitalized Peace Agreement. Under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, UNMISS is therefore authorized to use all necessary means to implement its mandate which includes: (a) Protection of civilians (b) Creating conditions conducive to the delivery of humanitarian assistance (c) Supporting the Implementation of the Revitalised Agreement and the Peace Process (d) Monitoring, investigating, and reporting on violations of humanitarian and human rights law The overall ceiling for uniformed personnel is maintained at 17,000 troops and 2,101 police, including 88 corrections officers. Please refer to https://unmiss.unmissions.org/mandate for more information.

ContextSouth Sudan is one of four countries from which the highest number of cases of sexual exploitation and abuse had been reported and for which the Secretary-General called for the designation of a position of Victims Rights Officer to perform the functions of the Victims’ Rights Advocate for victims’ rights on the ground. The office of the Victims Rights officer was established in South Sudan in March 2020. The office has a systemwide mandate and collaborates with mission structures, including the conduct and discipline team, humanitarian actors, as well as civil society, including local human rights organizations; and has a dual reporting line to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General through the DSRSG/RC/HC and the Victims’ Rights Advocate at UN Headquarters. In 2017, the Secretary-General, in his report on “Special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and abuse: a new approach” (A/71/818), pledged that the United Nations will put the rights and dignity of victims at the forefront of its efforts to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse. The SG appointed a system-wide Victims’ Rights Advocate to work, inter alia, to ensure reliable, gender-sensitive pathways exist for every victim or witness to file complaints and assistance is rapidly and sensitively delivered; work with local authorities and civil society organizations to ensure that victims’ rights were protected through access to appropriate and timely judicial processes; work with United Nations system entities so victims receive appropriate personal care, follow-up attention and information on the progress of their complaint; and work with Government institutions, civil society and national legal and human rights institutions in host countries and countries of perpetrators to facilitate remedies.

Task DescriptionUnder the oversight of the DSRSG/RC/HC and the Senior Victims' Rights Officer or their designate , the UNV will support the Senior Victims’ Rights Officer in Juba, South Sudan, and contribute to the operationalization of the mandate of the Victims’ Rights Advocate in delivering a systemwide integrated and strategic response to uphold the rights and dignity of victims, in coordination with United Nations system actors, in accordance with the Secretary-General’s strategy set out in his report on special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and abuse: a new approach (A/71/818 (2017)) and the United Nations Comprehensive Strategy on Assistance and Support to Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by United Nations Staff and Related Personnel (A/RES/62/214, Annex (21 December 2007 ) Specifically, the IUNV will: • Support the Senior Victims’ Rights Officer in the implementation of VRA-led policies, procedures and programmes on victims' assistance and support required as a result of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN staff and related personnel. • Support the Senior Victims’ Rights Officer and entity specific Victims' rights focal point persons maintain direct and regular contact with victims. • Support the Senior Victims’ Rights Officer to engage with UN system actors with the aim of ensuring that complaint/reporting mechanisms are in place and support services are available, including through participating in Network on Protection against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, the Protection cluster and the Gender Based violence cluster • Support the Senior Victims’ Rights Officer’s efforts for collation of systemwide data on victims' assistance and expand the existing Victim Assistance Tracking System (VATS) beyond the mission setting in South Sudan • Assist in conceptualizing and drafting of project proposals for submission to the Trust Fund in Support of Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, as well as other funding sources in collaboration with UN-system actors and civil society organizations; assist in project-management and follow-up, in case of project(s) under implementation. • Provide support to processes that facilitate victims access to justice and legal services, including the support of a maintenance of a roster of pro bono lawyers and pro bono legal assistance, if needed. • Support efforts to facilitate paternity claims on behalf of victims in cooperation with other UN-system actors. • Support the Senior Victims’ Rights Officer in fundraising efforts, search for potential funding sources, and preparation of funding applications and reporting.

Competencies and values• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management

Living conditions and remarksLiving conditions vary between UNMISS duty stations. Each duty station where UNMISS has a field presence has basic residential camp facilities, which includes running water and electricity. Candidates should be aware that accommodation may be austere with the possibility of water shortages and power blackouts. On arrival in Juba accommodation will be on a share basis. Ablutions will also be shared. As the accommodation situation improves single unit accommodation, with an attached ablution, should become available in all locations. Hard wall accommodation is available in Juba. All UNMISS duty stations apart from Entebbe, Uganda are considered non - family duty stations. The security level of UNMISS duty stations is classified by the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) who will brief on arrival. A number of locations in South Sudan are prone to conflict. Primary health care services (preventive and curative) are provided in 11 United Nations Owned Equipment (UNOE) Level-I clinics, 21 Contingent Owned Equipment (COE) Level-I clinics, 4 COE Level-II medical facilities within the mission area and the establishment of contractual agreements for Level-III and Level-IIII care outside the mission area. The 4 Level-II facilities available in Juba, Bor, Malakal and Wau, run by the Troop Contributing Countries (TCC), take referrals from the Level-I clinics and provide hospital-based care. The climate is tropical with a rainy season in many areas, which should normally span from around April to October. Ability to live and work in difficult and harsh conditions is essential.