Human Rights Officer - Small States Office - Geneva, Switzerland

Reference: HRU/RCWG/0482B
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Duration: 2 years
Closing Date: 20 Aug 2012

Job Summary

The post will support Commonwealth small states specifically and member states generally by monitoring and participating in developments at the UN Human Rights Council, its Universal Periodic Review and Treaty Body mechanisms. The Human Rights Officer will prepare timely advisories of human rights issues as they unfold in member states and advise the Head of Human Rights. The adviser will be a focal point for publication - through external and internal media and fora - of the work being done on small states, in consultation with the Communications and Publications Affairs Division.

Qualifications and Work Experience

To succeed in this role, you will need a post-graduate qualification in a discipline relevant to human rights. Preferred subjects include human rights, development, law, politics, international relations or social policy.

Additionally, you will need:

• At least 5 to 8 years’ experience, at national and international levels, in implementing and promoting human rights;
• At least 3 to 5 years’ experience in delivering human rights training and capacity development interventions; development of training curricula and programmes; working with the Universal Periodic Review relative to governments and NHRI’s;
• Experience in the promotion of human rights in more than two countries and in more than one region of the Commonwealth;
• Experience of addressing different audiences such as government officials, diplomatic staff, Parliamentarians, civil society, inter-governmental agencies - in writing and in person;
• At least three years’ experience in human rights advocacy with governments, specifically within the Commonwealth;
• Demonstrated knowledge of Geneva-based human rights mechanisms including treaty bodies, special procedures, Universal Periodic Review and the Human Rights Council;
• Experience in human rights research and training at national or international level;
• Experience of working effectively in a small team.

About the Small States Office

The Small States Office in Geneva aims to increase effective engagement of Commonwealth small states in human rights mechanisms, discourse and decisions that are Geneva-based, among other objectives.

Further Information

How to apply

Terms and Conditions of Service

Job Description for Human Rights Officer, Small States Office