Thailand Human Rights Fellow

The Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG) is a grassroots, locally led human rights organisation established in Karen State during 1992 and now operating across three states and two divisions in eastern Burma. KHRG works with villagers in rural Burma to strengthen their ability to claim their human rights, documents their human rights situation and conducts international advocacy. More information about us and our work is available online at www.khrg.org.

This position is based in KHRG’s information processing office in northern Thailand and the post holder should be prepared to commit at least six months to KHRG. Currently, this position is not funded and applicants are encouraged to seek outside funding. After six months, however, shift to a permanent salaried position may be available subject to availability, performance, management decisions and support from external donors. The successful applicant will have an opportunity to be involved in all aspects of human rights work and make a large contribution to the struggle for human rights in Burma.

The position involves assisting with the ongoing implementation of KHRG’s Raw Data Project as well as supporting human rights documentation and report writing activities to supplement the organisation’s advocacy, lobbying, networking and campaigning at regional and international levels. Reports will be determined by local priorities and perspectives on the general human rights situation in Burma and on other important issues for people in rural eastern Burma, including ongoing armed conflict; the use of civilians to shield troops and sweep landmines; government-imposed development projects and large-scale natural resource extraction; issues affecting the rights of women, children, military deserters and convicts; exploitative abuses by state military, civilian personnel and non-state armed groups, such as forced labour, land confiscation, arbitrary taxation and looting; and forced migration and displacement. Applicants with an interest in expanding their understanding of human rights and life in rural eastern Burma, especially those interested in challenging traditional conceptions of human rights that privilege international legal frameworks, should find the position particularly attractive. KHRG operates on a consensus basis and the position holder will largely work as part of a small team for each report, thus team-working skills are important. Applicants should also be highly motivated, able to work with little supervision, and should have experience researching or working on human rights issues, preferably in the region. A strong commitment to helping rural people claim their human rights is essential.

Main Responsibilities:

1. Assist with the ongoing implementation of KHRG’s Raw Data Project and support ongoing systematisation and standardisation of KHRG’s reporting processes, including development of Information Processing, Editing and Report Writing manuals. Full activity details are available on request.

2. Provide support to KHRG’s Information Processing and Report Writing teams as they process information from the field and use it to produce English-language human rights reports. This will include: a. Editing translated documents or human rights reports b. Giving feedback and working with individual and/ or groups of team members to build English and writing skills

Additional Responsibilities:

Implement research priorities identified during management meetings. Depending on performance and expertise, the Fellow will take on added responsibilities editing and writing detailed human rights reports based on field research conducted by KHRG’s network of field researchers.

Essential knowledge, skills and abilities:

1. Excellent oral and written communication skills.

2. Expertise in writing human rights reports, or similar writing projects.

3. Self-motivated, self-disciplined, well organised, and able to function under pressure, including meeting deadlines and responding promptly to job-related tasks

4. Attention to detail, including conscientious editing that accurately retains the character of the original document.

5. Positive attitude, including a willingness to be flexible, take initiative and use problem-solving skills, and to accept feedback and make adjustments to improve performance.

6. Ability to work independently and in teams in a multicultural working environment.

7. Teaching skills, both in a one-on-on or on-the-job context and through organising formalised lessons

8. Good knowledge of standard computer applications such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc.), Internet and email applications.

Desirable knowledge, skills and abilities:

1. Knowledge of the human rights situation in Burma, with specific knowledge of the situation as it affects rural communities in eastern Burma.

2. Some knowledge of Karen, Burmese, and/or Thai.

3. Knowledge of computer applications such as PhotoShop, PageMaker, Power Point, etc.

4. Knowledge of website design and maintenance (HTML, FTP) and other IT functions such as networking and general computer maintenance.

5. Knowledge about international human rights standards, mechanisms and practices as well as ongoing debates on internal displacement, Burmese politics, human rights, development issues, etc.

Note that candidates lacking prior knowledge of situation for rural communities in eastern Burma must be willing to work to develop necessary expertise, including through:

1. Committing to preparatory research before beginning work with KHRG.

2. Committing to research outside of working hours after beginning work with KHRG. The Fellow and KHRG will collaborate to devise a personal research schedule, and the Fellow will be expected to complete agreed-upon outside research activities. KHRG will provide orientation, materials, guidance and feedback.

Salary and support:

KHRG operates on a consensus basis and has an egalitarian salary system that does not discriminate between local and expatriate staff. This position is not funded and applicants are encouraged to seek outside funding. After six months, however, shift to a permanent salaried position may available subject to availability, performance, management decisions and support from external donors.

To Apply:

There is no formal closing date for the position, but we hope to fill it no later than the end of September 2010. Applications for the position should include:

1. A cover letter stating, among others, why the applicant is interested in the position and how he or she satisfies the knowledge, skills and abilities requirements for the position.

2. A writing sample that can appropriately be compared to KHRG reports. While edited or peer-reviewed samples are welcome, particularly published papers, an additional sample that has not received outside editing must also be provided. Samples of any length will be accepted, but should demonstrate the applicant's ability to write clearly on topics relevant to KHRG's reporting. Applicants are encourage to consult published work on KHRG’s website before deciding on a sample that serves as an appropriate comparison.

3. A detailed CV with references. Referees will not be contacted without notifying the applicant in advance.

A phone interview may be requested of some applicants. Please send materials to: applications@khrg.org .