Human Rights Watch RESEARCHER ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS

FULL-TIME JOB VACANCY
RESEARCHER
Women’s Rights Division
(Based in the Middle East region, flexible)
Apply Immediately

Human Rights Watch (“HRW”) is seeking a Researcher for its Women’s Rights Division (“WRD”) to lead its work on women’s rights in the Middle East and North Africa (“MENA”).  The Researcher will work to improve awareness and accountability for human rights violations against women in the region.  This position reports to the Director of the Women’s Rights Division.

Responsibilities:

1. Research, monitor and document human rights abuses by collecting and analyzing information from a wide variety of sources including governments, local media, NGOs, victims, witnesses, journalists, diplomats, security forces and others in the field;

2. Write and publicize reports, briefing papers, letters, news releases, op-eds, and submissions to international bodies based on the findings; collect supporting documents and materials such as photographs and videos;

3. Assist in the development and implementation of local, regional, and international strategies to change abusive laws, policies, and practices;

4. Respond promptly to queries from the media, public, and colleagues in the human rights community and take initiative to project concerns in public debate;

5. Place abuses within the broader political, social and economic contexts and present human rights concerns to government officials, opinion leaders, inter-governmental agencies, and the media;

6. Assist the Director of the WRD and HRW’s Development and Outreach Department in conducting fundraising;

7. Work closely with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and local human rights organizations to ensure that HRW’s work complements and enhances their own work;

8. Liaise effectively with HRW staff located in multiple locations throughout the world to ensure effective coordination and delivery of activities;

9. Be prepared and willing to work flexible hours to accommodate developing and urgent events; 

10. Travel domestically and internationally, as required, to conduct fact-finding missions;

11. Deliver outputs in a timely manner and be consistent with the agreed strategy and priorities of the WRD; and

12. Carry out any other duties as required.

Qualifications:

Education:  An advanced (graduate) degree in international relations, women’s studies, journalism, law, social sciences, or related studies is required.

Experience:  Minimum of five years directly related post-graduate experience working on women’s rights in the Middle East and North Africa at a national and regional level; experience living in the region is essential

Related Skills and Knowledge: 

1. Ability to identify, research, analyze and effectively communicate important human rights developments in the area of specialty is required.

2. Ability and sensitivity to conduct interviews with a wide range of people, including victims and witnesses are required.

3. Ability to efficiently distil information about women’s rights in the region so as to focus time and effort on issues of greatest importance or issues that are most capable of being influenced is required.

4. Ability to identify and advise the Director in developing and implementing advocacy strategies in order to seize advocacy opportunities is required.

5. Knowledge of and experience working in international human rights and familiarity with international human rights law is required.

6. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are required; proficiency in Arabic and French is highly desirable

7. Strong initiative and follow-through, the capacity to think creatively and strategically, excellent writing and editing skills, and a dynamic public speaking ability are required.

8. Strong interpersonal skills in order to work collaboratively within HRW, as well as with external partners, are required.

9. Ability to multi-task effectively, including having good planning and organizing skills and ability to work under pressure are required.

10. Ability to make sound decisions consistent with functions is required.

11. Demonstrated ability to think strategically about the global and local media environments and how to use the media and electronic media to further advocacy goals is desirable.

Other: S/he must be willing to travel often and to spend extended periods in the field.

Salary and Benefits:  HRW seeks exceptional applicants and offers competitive compensation and employer-paid benefits.  HRW will pay reasonable relocation expenses and will assist employees in obtaining necessary work authorization, if required; citizens of all nationalities are encouraged to apply.

Contact: Please submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, a brief writing sample (unedited by others), and contact information for three references to wrd@hrw.org. Please use “Researcher Ref WRD-12-1028-A” as the subject of your email. 

Only complete applications will be reviewed and only qualified candidates will be contacted.

Human Rights Watch is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in its hiring practices and, in order to build the strongest possible workforce, actively seeks a diverse applicant pool.

Human Rights Watch is an international human rights monitoring and advocacy organization known for its in-depth investigations, its incisive and timely reporting, its innovative and high-profile advocacy campaigns, and its success in changing the human rights-related policies and practices of influential governments and international institutions.

The Women's Rights Division (WRD) of Human Rights Watch was established in 1990 to monitor state-sponsored or state-tolerated violence and sex discrimination against women in all regions of the world.  Much of its work consists of gathering detailed information on abuses against women and publishing reports that are as reliable, comprehensive, and timely as possible, so as to effect change in repressive practices and improve respect for women’s rights throughout the world.  The work of WRD seeks to expand the scope of human rights work to address abuses against women that traditionally have been overlooked or misunderstood, as well as achieve greater accountability for violations of women’s human rights.