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Job Opening
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Posting Title: |
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Senior Human Rights Officer, P5
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Job Code Title: |
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SENIOR HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER
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Department/ Office: |
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United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan
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Duty Station: |
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KABUL
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Posting Period: |
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23 December 2014-6 January 2015
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Job Opening number: |
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14-HRI-UNAMA-39381-F-KABUL (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 position is located within the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). The Senior Human Rights Officer will be based in Kabul. The Senior Human Rights Officer will report to the Chief Human Rights Officer and OHCHR Representative in Afghanistan.
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Responsibilities
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The UNAMA Human Rights Division supports the Government of Afghanistan to implement its obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law, and preventing and addressing violations. The Human Rights Unit conducts monitoring activities and investigations on violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, including in support of the implementation of the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM). It also issues regular internal and public reports on the situation of human rights with a particular focus on protection of civilians (POC), detention monitoring, Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW), Gender, Child Protection; Afghan Peoples Dialogue and Peace. Through appropriate mechanisms, the UNAMA Human Rights team also engages with armed groups to address human rights and international humanitarian law issues. Within delegated authority and under the direct supervision of the Chief of the Human Rights, UNAMA and with the substantive support and general policy guidance of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the incumbent will be responsible for the following main functions as relevant to the mandates of the UNAMA Human Rights Unit and the Mission:
• Promote human rights: advise on appropriate policies and strategies to better promote and protect human rights in the mission area, including for peace processes, Develop procedures and policies for the effective cooperation with other components of the UNAMA mission including with the police and military and for the integration of human rights and supervise their implementation.
• Provide strategic guidance to the UNAMA mandate within the four priority areas of UNAMA Human Rights mandate (Child Protection, Protection of Civilians, Combating Violence Against Women, Peace and Reconciliation and accountability, and the prevention of torture and arbitrary detention) relevant to the observance of the international human rights and humanitarian law in the specific area of responsibility, the United Nations Country Team and Humanitarian Country Team on the mainstreaming of human rights in the activities of as required and advocate for the integration of human rights in these programmes including with respect to the United Nations Development Assistance and Integrated Strategy frameworks as well as the consolidated (humanitarian) appeal processes;
• Lead and coordinate Monitoring, investigations and reporting. Coordinate, supervise and ensure adequate conduct of human rights monitoring activities of UNAMA human rights component in compliance with UN methodology and relevant to the observance of the international humanitarian law violations and humanitarian law in the UNAMA mission area;
• Provide strategic guidance to and lead, as required, multidisciplinary tams in the conduct of investigations of human rights and international humanitarian law violations in compliance with UN methodology and standards; oversee the maintenance of a database of human rights cases, monitor access rights at regional field level, evaluate quality of data in compliance with established standards;
• Draft a variety of reports and ensure quality standards are met with regard to reporting, including in respect of public human rights reports and of those produced under the Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Arrangements as appropriate, Strategic Advice and advocacy;
• Provide strategic guidance to UN presence, national authorities and civil society in Afghanistan on capacity building strategies, including for the alignment of legislative and rule of law reforms with international human rights norms and for the State to meet international human rights law obligations;
• Provide guidance and advocate with national authorities in their planning and overseeing of activities relating to the implementation and follow-up of recommendations by Treaty Bodies, Special Procedures and other mechanisms of the UN Human Rights Council;
• Provide strategic guidance to the human rights component, the UN presence and national authorities in Afghanistan on the establishment of transitional justice processes and the setup of accountability and reparations mechanisms as appropriate.
• Advise UN and national authorities on the establishment of a vetting framework and implementation mechanisms in the mission area, as required;
• Advise Senior Management and contribute to the integration of human rights in the protection of civilians (POC), including through the representation and participation of the human rights component in relevant decision –making bodies and field efforts on POC;
• Oversee the planning of human rights training programmes for national officials, representatives of the civil society, human rights non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other national stakeholders;
• Contribute to the integration of gender perspectives/considerations and specific women/girls rights issues in all activities, programmes and strategies, and oversee human rights components’ engagement in combating impunity for sexual violence;
• Devise advocacy strategies, advocate and advise relevant authorities including Government officials, UN Country Team (UNCT), and the UNAMA mission senior management on strategies to better protect and promote human rights, mechanisms to stop impunity and to redress serious violations of human rights and humanitarian law;
• Establish and maintain contact with national authorities, civil society UN actors and bodies, and other relevant partners to inform on the human rights situation in the mission area and advice on strategic and policy issues to better protect and management; • Represent the human rights component in decision-making; • Provide substantive coordination and management oversight a required to the Human Rights component field offices, ensuring a link between field operations, strategic direction and results targeted by the human rights component, including in its results-based work-plan;
• Ensure information on human rights situation in the mission area is readily available for decision-making, strategy and policy setting;
• Monitor compliance of the activities of the UNAMA human rights component with appropriate UN policy directives and methodology; Ensure cooperation and appropriate communication with OHCHR in the setup of policies and sharing of best practices, including during establishment and handover of a mission;
• Oversee the coordination of and participate as necessary in fund raising activities and ensure the appropriate management of technical cooperation projects;
• Design, coordinate the implementation of the human rights work plan and evaluate its impact;
• Serve as Team Leader with responsibility for carrying out, in consultation with the Chief of Human Rights component, work coordination strategies for new or junior staff and monitor their implementation;
• Perform other related duties as required;
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Competencies
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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.
PROFESSIONALISM: Proven sensitivity to conflict and post-conflict political and social environments and ability to adjust behaviors accordingly; Expert knowledge of human rights principles, international mechanisms and or related concepts, including protection of civilians, transitional justice, humanitarian action, legislative, rule of law reforms as well as good understanding of issues related to the integration of human rights in Afghanistan, Capacity to maintain effective partnerships with relevant stakeholders to further the mandate of the organization(s), and to strategically advocate for the integration of human rights in various forums; Ability to produce in-depth analysis of political, ethnic, racial, gender-based, social, economic and other human rights related problems to assess their impact and to provide concrete strategy recommendations to redress situations;Continuous commitment to sharing professional knowledge and to mentor colleagues. 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: Excellent ability to speak and write clearly and effectively, including the ability to convey complex concepts and recommendations at senior levels, both orally and in writing, in a clear, concise style; 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, discretion and sound judgement in applying expertise to resolve complex and/or sensitive issues;
PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; Identifies priority activities and assignments; Adjusts priorities as required; Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; Uses time efficiently.
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Education
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An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, political science, international relations, social sciences or 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.
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Work Experience
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At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in the field and headquarters locations at national and international levels in the human rights field, including in the cause of resolution of human rights conflicts in accordance with international standards is required. Experience in reporting, monitoring and investigations of human rights violations is required. A minimum of 3 years of managerial and supervisory experience, including of teams, is also required.
Other Skills: Previous experience in other UN peace missions is highly 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 is required.
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Assessment
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Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an informal interview.
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Special Notice
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This "Recruit from Roster" job opening is only open to roster applicants who are already placed on pre-approved rosters, following a review by a United Nations Central Review Body. Only roster applicants who were placed on rosters with similar functions at the same level are considered to be eligible candidates. Eligible applicants receive an email inviting them to apply. Rostered applicants are encouraged to apply only if they are interested and available to take up the position at the duty station/s specified in the Job Opening. Applying to this job opening carries an expectation to accept the offer, if selected.
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United Nations Considerations
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Job openings posted on the Careers Portal are taken off at midnight (New York time) on the deadline date.
Applications are automatically pre-screened according to the published evaluation criteria of the job opening on the basis of the information provided by applicants. Applications cannot be amended following submission and incomplete applications shall not be considered. The selected candidate will be subject to a reference checking process to verify the information provided in the application.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the At-a-Glance on "The Application Process" and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” on the upper right side of the browser on Inspira.
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.
Candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
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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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