Job: Human Rights Officer

Location: BangkokEmployer: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN
Job Opening number:13-HRI-OHCHR-28168-R-BANGKOK (X)
Deadline: 7 September 2013

Description

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Organizational Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Regional Office for South-East Asia based in Bangkok, Thailand (ROB). The incumbent will report to the Regional Representative of the ROB and to the Chief of the Asia, Pacific, Middle East and North Africa Branch.

Responsibilities

a) Act as a focal point for all human rights activities relating to assigned countries, prepare and participate in country visits as required and develop strategies and policies for the effective promotion and protection of human rights in the region;

b) Formulate and implement strategies for the mainstreaming of human rights into the overall activities of Members States, regional mechanisms, national institutions as well as UN Country Teams in the region;

c) Provide advice and assistance in building up and/or strengthening specific protection mechanisms for vulnerable groups, including children, women, IDPs, returnees, persons with disabilities and old people and design projects and capacity building programmes to this aim;

d) Liaise with governments, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), UN agencies and other partners to create baseline data on the human rights situations in specific countries and update the database on a regular basis;

e) Act as focal point for the Asia-Pacific Regional Coordination Mechanism's Thematic Working Groups and the UNDG Asia Pacific mechanism and incorporate a human rights dimensions into their programming;

f) Liaise with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and other UN Regional Offices in order to mainstream human rights into their work, including in relation to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs);

g) Liaise with and provide thematic support and expertise to United Nations Country Team (UNCT) thematic groups, as requested, including in support of the Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) on children and armed conflict; develop strategic relationships with the UNCTs in the region, with a specific focus on supporting them to apply a human rights based approach to their common programming initiatives (e.g. Common Country Assessments (CCA), United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks (UNDAF) in line with the Secretary-General's Reform Programme and in liaison with the UN Staff College, UN Development Operations Coordination Office (DOCO) and relevant OHCHR units;

h) Elaborate strategies on how to encourage Member States to ratify international human rights instruments;

i) Ensure follow-up on the recommendations formulated by Treaty Bodies, Special Procedures and the UPR by developing a follow-up system and providing expertise and technical support to UNCTs, governments, national institutions, and non-governmental organizations on their implementation;

j) Promote and facilitate two-way communication and dialogue between UNCTs and international human rights mechanisms (UNCTs reporting to Treaty Bodies, Special Procedures & Univeral Periodic Review (UPR)

k) Support the work of Special Rapporteurs mandated on countries in the region or conducting visits to countries covered by the Regional Office, in close coordination with OHCHR Headquarters;

l) Prepare workshops and seminars on reporting to treaty bodies, on the functioning and use of the Special Procedures as well as the UPR process;

m) Represent ROB at meetings/conferences and maintain regular contacts with OHCHR Headquarters, other UN agencies and international organizations, governments and NGOs;

n) Prepare relevant inputs for Regional Representative (RR) reports and statements, prepare relevant inputs to reports to the General Assembly, Human Rights Council and others as required, and make recommendations for action through the RR to the Chiefs of Branches at HQ;

o) Prepare the office's reports and correspondence, ensuring regular communications with Headquarters and the submission of reports in accordance with OHCHR's requirements;

p) Recommend the best use of human and financial resources in accordance with strategies, priorities, work plans and cost plans established in line with the policies, procedures and budgets applied by the Office, and

q) fulfill any other tasks as required by RR or OHCHR HQ.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Comprehensive knowledge of a range of human rights issues, including approaches and techniques to address sensitive and complex problems; very good knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines related to human rights including the U.N. planning framework; very good knowledge of the South-East Asia region including the political environment and legal statutes as they pertain to human rights; demonstrated ability to complete in-depth studies and reach conclusions on possible causes and solutions to human rights problems in specific societies and systems; good political judgment and advocacy skills and the ability to understand and respond to sensitive and complex political and social events; ability to relate human rights issues and perspectives, including gender issues, to political, social, economic and humanitarian programmes in affected countries and areas.

LEADERSHIP: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow; Empowers others to translate vision into results; Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; Drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo; Shows the courage to take unpopular stands.

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.

TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

PLANNING AND ORGANISING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Education

Advanced university degree (Masters and equivalent) in human rights, public or international law, political science, international relations or other related field. A first level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

At least 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience at national and international levels in the human rights field, including in human rights mainstreaming and/or project management and/or training and/or working with UN Country Teams. Experience in the Asia and Pacific region is a strong asset.

Languages

Fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is an advantage.

Assessment Method

The candidates will be assessed through a written practical test and a competency-based interview.

Special Notice

Extension of the appointment is subject to Extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds.

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff 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, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS' BANK ACCOUNTS.