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Job Opening
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Posting Title: |
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PRINCIPAL HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER, D1
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Job Code Title: |
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PRINCIPAL HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER
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Department/ Office: |
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United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti
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Duty Station: |
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PORT-AU-PRINCE
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Posting Period: |
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8 November 2013-7 December 2013
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Job Opening number: |
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13-HRI-MINUSTAH-31685-R-PORT-AU-PRINCE (M)
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Staffing Exercise ID: |
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N/A
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United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
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Org. Setting and Reporting
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This post is found in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). The Principal Human Rights Officer will serve as the Chief of the MINUSTAH Human Rights Section and the Representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Haiti. The Principal Human Rights Officer will be based in Port-au-Prince, which is a non-family duty station. The Principal Human Rights Officer will report to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Haiti directly and through his/her deputy. The Human Rights mandate of MINUSTAH includes supporting the Government as well as Haitian human rights institutions and groups and monitoring and reporting on the human rights situation, in cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, it also has a critical role with the humanitarian community leading the Protection Cluster’s response to the natural disasters.
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Responsibilities
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Under the overall authority of the Special Representative to the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Haiti and Head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), and the substantive support and general policy guidance of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Principal Human Rights Officer will serve as the Chief of the Human Rights Section and will be responsible for the following duties:
ADVISORY AND REPRESENTATIVE ROLES - Act as the Principal Adviser to the Special Representative of the Secretary- General (SRSG) on issues related to human rights and report through the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (DSRSG) on activities related to the work of the Human Rights Section (HRS); - Act as the Representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Haiti, and report to the High Commissioner (HC) in Geneva in his/her capacity as Representative of the High Commissioner; - Represent the Human Rights component and OHCHR at interagency meetings at country level and advise UN Country Team (UNCT) and Humanitarian Country Team to ensure human rights and a human rights based approach are fully integrated into political, humanitarian and development efforts, including with respect to the United Nations Development Assistance and Integrated Strategic Frameworks (UNDAF and ISF) as well as the Consolidated (Humanitarian) Appeal (CAP/CHAP) processes; - Represent the mission and OHCHR on human rights matters during contacts with national and international organizations working in the field of human rights, diplomatic missions, donors, and other international actors; - Support the mandate of United Nations Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Haiti and other UN Special Procedures mandate holders, in relation to Haiti. - Participate in Senior Management Team meetings; provide its participants with information on HRS activities and recommend measures necessary or desirable for other sections of the Mission to better protect and promote human rights in the mission area; - Participate in the Strategic Planning Group meetings and advise on policy decisions that may have direct or indirect Human Rights implications;
SUBSTANTIVE COORDINATION - Lead the work of the Protection Cluster and as such ensure that human rights considerations are reflected and integrated in humanitarian activities, including in the cluster approach to humanitarian emergencies, emergency planning (eg. CHAP/CAP), preparedness and response; - Ensure quality standards are met with regard to monitoring and reporting, including that public reports are issued in consultation with the SRSG and HC/OHCHR; - Ensure that Human Rights standards, with special emphasis in SGBV and child protection, are integrated in the Security Sector and the Haitian National Police Reforms, through inter alia, the training programmes of the police sector, and the vetting process of police recruits; - Ensure monitoring of the human rights situation, including economic and social rights as well as the institutional functioning of key rule-of-law institutions such as police commissariats, prosecutor’s offices, courts and prisons; - Maintain liaison with Haitian authorities and provide them with regular updates on human rights, justice and transitional justice situation, with a view to facilitate institutional reforms including the judiciary and correctional systems; - Encourage awareness rising on economic and social rights in cooperation with the UNCT and support the involvement of OHCHR’s special procedures in the promotion of human rights in the country; - Support Haitian civil society organizations in building their capacity to contribute to the development and monitoring of public policies, particularly in Haiti’s reconstruction process, in order to ensure the respect, protection and progressive fulfilment of economic, social and cultural rights and the reinforcement of the rule of law; - Support State institutions, including the Minister for Human Rights and the Fight against Extreme Poverty, the Office de la Protection du Citoyen et de la Citoyenne, the Chief Inspector General of the Haitian National Police and the Department for Civil Protection in their activities to promote and protect human rights in Haiti; - Ensure the provision of technical assistance to the Haitian Government, as well as Parliament and civil society actors, in the development of a Human Rights Action Plan and in the Government’s international human rights reporting obligations; - Assist the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Human Rights in the implementation of its work plan, with particular focus in the areas of follow up and implementation of the UPR recommendations and reporting, reporting to Treaty Bodies, ratification/access to international human rights treaties and measures to ensure gender equality; - Assist the Haitian Government to build up civil society capacity for the protection of human rights defenders, victims and witnesses, in close coordination with other components of the Mission, United Nations agencies, the Organization of the American States and the Caribbean Community; - Support awareness raising among Government, authorities and civil society of human rights and rule-of-law issues, including those related to law enforcement, justice, the fight against impunity and economic, social and cultural rights; - Contribute to the commitment of the UN to mainstream human rights and integrate gender perspectives and specific women/girls’ rights issues in all the activities of the human rights component and of the Mission, as relevant, in cooperation with the mission’s Gender Adviser;
MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES - Responsible for the overall management of the Human Rights Section and the provision of substantive leadership, through, inter-alia, formulating the substantive work programme of the office, allocating resources, reporting on budget/programme performance; evaluating staff’s performance and ensuring correct staffing of the Section; - Ensure the Human Rights Section collects, consolidates, analyses and reports on information received from staff/offices from across the mission area, including through coordinating the effective implementation of adequate reporting mechanisms; set-up and functioning of a human rights database with quality control mechanisms and the timely and quality entry of data in that system; - Participate in the strategic and operational planning exercises related to the transitioning of MINUSTAH and to this effect, reassess programmes, operations and resources accordingly, including with respect to assuming areas of work or handling over responsibilities to other partners. - Maintain close liaison with OHCHR-HQ, including with geographical desk officers, and ensure timely and periodic communications on the human rights situation, including with the treaty monitoring bodies and the special procedures mechanisms; - Liaise with donors and ensure adequate reporting on their contributions; - Perform other duties as required by the SRSG and the HC.
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Competencies
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PROFESSIONALISM: Excellent knowledge of and exposure to a range of human rights and justice, including transitional justice issues, gender issues, the rules governing their protection and the mechanisms available in case of their violations; Capacity to relate to and integrate human rights issues and perspectives into other fields -humanitarian action, development, rule of law, legislation reforms and election support, and vice versa; Knowledge and understanding of gender concepts and methodologies to integrate women/girl’s rights issues in programmes and activities; Good understanding the political background and human rights situation in Haiti. Proven negotiating and managerial skills; strong ability to take initiatives and to demonstrate autonomy, excellent leadership skills and ability to motivate a multicultural and mixed men/women team; Ability to work and act under pressure in a politically and psychologically difficult environment, with a minimum of comfort and in precarious security conditions; Sound political judgment, impartiality, diplomacy and discretion; Ability to relate human rights issues and perspectives, including gender issues, to political, social, economic and humanitarian programmes in affected country and areas; Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.
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.
MANAGING PERFORMANCE: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; Makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; Accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; Monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; Regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; Encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; Actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; Appraises performance fairly.
JUDGEMENT/DECISION-MAKING: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; Gathers relevant information before making a decision; Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; Checks assumptions against facts; Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; Makes tough decisions when necessary.
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Education
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An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, political sciences, social sciences, international relations, or a related area. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be considered in lieu of the advanced degree.
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Work Experience
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A minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible professional experience at national and international levels in the human rights field, including the cause and resolution of human rights conflicts in accordance with international standards, with at least 5 years of supervisory, management and leadership experience is required. Previous experience in the United Nations, including through working with United Nations Country Teams and/or Humanitarian Country Teams, is required. Experience working in a United Nations common system field operation (inclusive of peacekeeping, political missions and UN agencies, funds, and programmes) – or similar international organisation or non-governmental organisation – in a conflict or post-conflict setting is required. Proven experience in public speaking and representation at high level is required. Previous experience working in humanitarian contexts, including in the humanitarian preparedness and response to such situations and relevant to protection, is required. Previous work experience in Haiti is desirable.
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Languages
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English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in oral and written English, with a good working knowledge of French, is required; fluency in French is desirable. Knowledge of another United Nations official language and/or relevant local language is desirable.
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Assessment
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Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
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Special Notice
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Extension of the appointment is subject to Extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.
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United Nations Considerations
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The United Nations shall place 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. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
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No Fee
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THE 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.
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