United Nations - Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Geneva
Human Rights Officer (P3)
Deadline for applications: 13 November 2012

Organizational setting and reporting
The position is located in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the incumbent will work in the Human Rights Treaties Division, under the general supervision of the Director of the Human Rights Treaties Division and the direct supervision of Chief of the Groups in Focus Section.


Responsibilities
The duties listed below are generic and may not all be carried out by the selected Human Rights Officer:
• Provides Secretariat support to the following human rights treaty bodies: Human Rights Committee, Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Committee against Torture, Committee on the Rights of the Child, Committee on Migrant Workers, Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Committee on Enforced Disappearances and Meeting of the Chairpersons of human rights treaty bodies, Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture;
• Prepares country analyses and draft-lists of issues for State reports to be examined by human rights treaty bodies;
• Services the meetings of treaty bodies;
• Participates in training activities on the work of treaty bodies;
• Drafts concluding observations under the State reporting procedure;
• Carries out research into and drafts reports on the jurisprudence of the treaty bodies concerned and prepares legal analyses;
• Helps to ensure the consistency and the coherence of the jurisprudence of the treaty bodies and contributes to the continuous strengthening of the treaty bodies;
• Participates in the Division input to the Universal Periodic Review system (UPR);
• Provides input to outreach and information tasks.

Competencies
Professionalism: Good knowledge of and exposure to a range of human rights issues. Good knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines related to human rights in particular: treaty body monitoring mechanisms and/or treaty based complaints procedures. Good analytical and research skills, including ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources.
Communication: Strong communication (spoken, written and presentational) skills, including the ability to produce a variety of analytical written reports in a clear, concise style, to deliver training presentations to external audiences, to build/maintain effective partnerships.
Planning and organization: Ability to establish priorities and to plan work assignments, juggle competing demands and work under pressure of frequent and tight deadlines.
Technology awareness: Good computer skills, including proficiency in word processing and other software packages, knowledge of databases and web-based information systems.
Teamwork: Proven interpersonal skills and ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Education
Advanced university degree in law, political science, international relations preferably with specialization in human rights. A combination of relevant academic qualifications and extensive experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work experience
A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible work experience at national and international levels in human rights or related fields.

Languages
Fluency in Spanish and in either English or in French. Knowledge of another UN official languages would be an advantage.

Assessment method
Candidates determined to be the most qualified will be assessed through a written test. The successful candidates will be invited to a competency based interview.

Special notice
Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff members are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers In accordance with established rules and procedures.

United Nations considerations
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, art. 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

How to apply: Please use the online recruitment system on the United Nations Careers portal.