Chief Human Rights Officer, D-1
| DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: | 27 Aug 2012 |
| DATE OF ISSUANCE: | 28 Jul 2012 |
| ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT: | AU/UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur |
| DUTY STATION: | El Fasher |
| VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: | 12-HRI-UNAMID-425802-R-EL FASHER |
| Remuneration Depending on professional background, experience and family situation, a competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. More Info |
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity |
| Responsibilities Under the overall authority of the AU-UN Joint Special Representative for Darfur (JSR), the substantive support and guidance of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the UNAMID Chief Human Rights Officer will be responsible for the following duties: ADVISORY AND REPRESENTATIVE ROLES: Act as the Principal Adviser to the AU-UN Joint Special Representative and report to him/her through the Deputy Joint Special Representative (Political) of the Secretary-General on issues related to human rights, including the monitoring and investigation of human rights violations, violence committed against children and women as well as other vulnerable populations, sexual and gender-based violence including conflict-related sexual violence, protection of civilians, efforts to combat impunity, and technical cooperation project related to human rights; Act as the Representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Darfur, and report to the High Commissioner (HC) on the above in this capacity; Represent the human rights component and OHCHR at interagency meetings in Darfur and, in his/her capacity as OHCHR's representative, advise the UN Country Team (UNCT) and the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) to ensure that human rights issues are fully integrated into political, humanitarian and development efforts and programmes including with respect to the United Nations Development Assistance and Integrated Strategic Frameworks (UNDAF and ISF) as well as the Consolidated (Humanitarian) Appeal (C(H)AP) processes; Represent the mission and OHCHR in human rights matters during contact with national and international organizations working in the field of human rights as well as in related fields, diplomatic missions, donors, and other international actors; Provide advice at senior levels to the Government of Sudan, Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) and the Darfur state governments, non-state actors, uniformed sector and others, in respect of specific human rights concerns, bringing to their attention violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, and suggesting appropriate actions; Advise the Government of Sudan, Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) and the Darfur state governments on strategies, policies and actions necessary to ratify key international human rights instruments and ensure respect and implementation of international human rights law and standards; Participate in the mission's internal policy and decision-making processes, including the Senior Leadership Team, and advise on strategic, policy and operational decisions that may have human rights implications, which inter alia will include the protection of civilians strategy; Inform other components of the mission on measures to adopt for the protection and promotion of human rights, to mainstream human rights and to implement a human rights-based approach; Advise relevant stakeholders participant of the Darfur-based political process and other initiatives aimed at achieving sustained peace in Darfur on issues related to human rights, including justice and reconciliation issues and accountability. SUBSTANTIVE COORDINATION: Ensure the regular and timely issuance of public human rights reports in consultation with OHCHR and the AU-UN JSR; and of other relevant internal reports, including of OHCHR; Ensure quality and standards with regard to human rights monitoring, investigation, verification, and reporting are met, as well as compliance with established monitoring, analysis and reporting arrangements, as relevant; Ensure appropriate liaison with the Government of Sudan, Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) and the Darfur state governments and ensure they are provided with regular updates on the human rights, justice and transitional justice situation; Collaborate with the Government, UN, AU, and other stakeholders in the planning and implementation of justice and security sector reforms and provide strategic advice to improve the compliance with human rights and international humanitarian law with a view to combat impunity and consolidate peace; Provide support to the Government to ensure compliance with its obligations related to the protection of civilians, including human rights defenders, victims and witnesses, in close coordination with the AU, the Mission, UN Agencies, and other international actors; Ensure investigations of human rights violations are conducted and recommendations of conclusive reports are followed up with the Government and, in this respect, advise the UN, the AU and other stakeholders on adopting strategies for the recommendations to be integrated in other programmes; Coordinate and support fact-finding visits and missions to Darfur by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR and relevant Special Procedures mechanisms of the Human Rights Council; Provide overall guidance and strategic advice to the Women Protection Advisor (Human Rights), including through overseeing the strategic design of joint work plans and by ensuring quality and timely reporting on widespread conflict-related sexual violence, including with respect to the established monitoring, analysis and reporting arrangement; Maintain close liaison with UN counterparts in the region with regard to developments that can affect the observance of the human rights in the mission area; In close coordination with other Mission components, UN agencies, and other international actors, support the national authorities and civil society at all levels to promote compliance with obligations related to the protection of civilians and to protect the human rights of those most vulnerable; Ensure the integration of human rights aspects in the mission's efforts to coordinate mechanisms to improve the protection of civilians, including through participating in planning and carrying out the Mission's response; Ensure, as OHCHR representative, that human rights considerations are reflected and integrated in humanitarian activities, including in emergency planning, preparedness and response, and through participating in and/or playing a lead role in the work of the Protection Cluster, as appropriate; Contribute to the fulfillment of UN Special Procedures mandates and ensure provision of substantive support to the various UN human rights mechanisms; Ensure the provision of support to the Government, civil society and the UNCT on the implementation of recommendations derived from the Universal Periodic Review process; Contribute to ensuring compliance with the UN commitment to mainstream human rights and integrate gender perspectives and specific women's/girls' rights issues in all the activities of the mission, in cooperation with the Gender Advisor. MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES: Overall management of the component and the provision of substantive leadership, through, inter alia, formulating a human rights strategy and the substantive program of work of the office; allocating resources; reporting on budget/programme performance; evaluating staff performance and ensuring appropriate staffing of the component; Implement a comprehensive and coordinated strategy for monitoring and reporting on the human rights situation in Darfur, including ensuring that the human rights section collects, consolidates and analyses information on human rights development received from staff/offices from across the Mission; coordinate effective setup and functioning of a human rights data base including set up quality control mechanisms; regularly monitor the timely and quality entry of data in the system; Overall planning, management and implementation of OHCHR-funded technical cooperation projects in Darfur, in accordance with approved OHCHR planning process; Maintain close liaison with OHCHR-HQ, including with geographical desk officers; ensure timely communications on the human rights situation, and ensure liaison with the UN human rights treaty monitoring bodies and Special Procedures; Perform other duties as required by the AU-UN JSR and the HC. |
Competencies PROFESSIONALISM: Excellent knowledge of and exposure to a range of human rights and justice issues, including transitional justice and gender issues, the rules governing their protection and the mechanisms available in case of violations, specially in the regional context; Familiarity with conflict and post-conflict contexts; Capacity to relate to and integrate human rights issues and perspectives into other fields – humanitarian action, development, rule of law, legislative reforms and vice-versa; Capacity to advise on legislative reforms; Sound knowledge on the organization and carrying out of human rights investigations; Knowledge and intricate understanding of gender concepts and sensitivities on women’s/girl’s rights and SGBV issues; Ability to work and act under pressure in a politically sensitive and stressful environment with a minimum of comfort and in precarious security conditions; Sound political judgment, impartiality, diplomacy and discretion; 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. ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable. VISION: Identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks; clearly communicates links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals; generates and communicates broad and compelling organizational direction, inspiring others to pursue that same direction; conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities. 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. |
QUALIFICATIONS |
Education Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, international relations, or law, preferably with specialization in human rights. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. |
Work Experience Over 15 years of progressively responsible professional experience at national and international levels in the fields of human rights, humanitarian action, political or social affairs, with at least 10 in the field of human rights is required. Such experience must encompass the monitoring and investigation of human rights violations. A minimum of 5 years of supervisory, management and leadership experience is required. Professional experience with United Nations Country Teams, donors and governmental representatives, including advocating for the promotion and respect of human rights is required. Proven experience in successful advocacy with host Governments, including in States emerging from conflict, is required. Proven experience in public speaking and representation at high level is required. Field experience in conflict or post conflict environments is required. Previous UN experience is required. |
Languages Fluency in oral and written English is required. Working knowledge of Arabic is desirable. |
Other Skills |
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). English and French are the two working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, TRAINING OR ANY OTHER FEES). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON BANK ACCOUNTS. PLEASE NOTE THAT APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. |
| How to apply All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the vacancy announcement. Because applications submitted by United Nations (UN) staff members are considered first, provided the eligibility requirements set out in ST/AI/2006/3 are met and the application is submitted in a timely fashion, staff members should apply within 15-day or 30-day mark. Online applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please go to “My UN” page and check the status of your application by clicking on “View Application History”, and resubmit the application, if necessary.
Please see the Frequently Asked Questions, if you encounter problems when applying. |
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