Principal Human Rights Officer, D-1

Position description

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located within the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO) of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO). The UNJHRO is composed of the human rights component of MONUSCO and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The Principal Human Rights Officer of the UNJHRO will serve as the Chief of the UN Joint Human Rights Office and the Representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in the DRC. The UNJHRO Principal Human Rights Officer will be based in Kinshasa and will report to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for the DRC and to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Responsibilities

Under the overall authority of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and the High Commissioner for Human Rights, whose Office provides substantive support and general policy guidance, and in line with relevant Security Council resolutions, the Principal Human Rights Officer will be responsible for the following duties in the mission area:

Advisory and representative roles:

• Acts as the Principal Advisor to the SRSG on all human rights promotion and protection activities, including the protection of civilians (PoC), transitional justice, the fight against impunity, sexual violence, protection of women and of children in armed conflict, human rights due diligence, human rights aspects of peace and reconciliation, and reports on issues related to human rights and the work of the UNJHRO;
• Acts as the Representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in the DRC, and reports to the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva in this capacity;
• Represents the UNJHRO at inter-agency meetings in the country and, in his/her capacity as OHCHR’s representative, advises the United Nations 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 Sustainable Development Cooperation and Integrated Strategic Frameworks (UNSDCF and ISF) as well as the Consolidated (Humanitarian) Appeal (C(H)AP) processes;
• Advises the SRSG and leads as necessary the Mission’s efforts on PoC, including through development and implementation of the UN system-wide strategy on PoC and in close collaboration with the Mission’s Senior PoC Advisor, the UNCT and the Protection Cluster;
• Advises Government, including the executive, legislative, judiciary and uniformed services and others, in respect to specific human rights concerns, bringing to their attention actual and potential violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, and suggesting appropriate actions;
• Represents the Mission and OHCHR on human rights matters during contacts with national and international organizations working in the field of human rights, diplomatic missions, donors, and other international actors;
• Participates in the Mission’s internal policy and decision-making fora, notably all senior mission leadership fora, and advises on strategic, policy and operational decisions that may have human rights implications;
• Participates in Senior Management Team meetings, informs its participants on the activities of the human rights component and recommends measures necessary or desirable for other sections of the Mission to protect and promote human rights in the mission area, mainstream human rights and to implement a human rights-based approach.

Substantive Coordination:

• Ensures coordination among all human rights activities present in the mission area; ensures the timely and effective flow of information and the channelling of human rights analysis and concerns for inclusion in crisis management and response;
• Develops human rights monitoring strategies and ensures investigations of human rights and international humanitarian law violations are conducted and recommendations of conclusive reports are followed up with the Government;
• Ensures the issuance of public reports in consultation with the SRSG and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in a timely and regular manner in accordance with applicable policy directives and guidance on public reporting by peace missions;
• Provides overall guidance and strategic direction to Human Rights Officers tasked with the protection of children’s rights and with conflict-related sexual violence, by ensuring dedicated capacity and by participating in the strategic design of the joint work plans and ensuring high quality and timely monitoring, analysis and reporting in compliance with established monitoring, analysis and reporting arrangements;
• Ensures the integration of human rights aspects into the Mission’s efforts to improve PoC, including through participating in the planning and carrying out of the Mission’s response or in establishing coordination mechanisms as necessary;
• Ensures coordination with military peacekeepers and UNPOL on the protection of civilians response, notably in translating human rights early warning information into operational responses and in responding to gross human rights violations;
• In close coordination with United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, other Mission components, and other international actors, supports authorities and civil society at all levels to promote compliance with obligations related to the protection of civilians and the protection of human rights of those most vulnerable, including women and children, as well as human rights defenders, victims and witnesses;
• Promotes and oversees initiatives linked to supporting and strengthening the national human rights promotion and protection system in the country, including through, inter alia, reinforcing the national human rights institution, building civil society and state capacities and developing protection programmes to support victims and witnesses in the context of the fight against impunity;
• Leads the Mission strategy on the fight against impunity in cooperation with other relevant Mission components and leads transitional justice efforts as appropriate with relevant stakeholders;
• Ensures, 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;
• Supports the establishment, participates or chairs as appropriate, Mission coordinating mechanisms for the implementation of the Human Rights Due Diligence Policy (HRDDP) on support provided by the UN to non-UN forces as relevant; ensures that risk assessments are undertaken, advice is given to senior management on support, follow-up and monitoring and that appropriate information is provided on the implementation of the Policy;
• Ensures the provision of support to the Government, civil society and the UNCT on engagement with international and regional human rights mechanisms, including the treaty body and Universal Periodic Review processes, as relevant, and the implementation of recommendations emanating from these mechanisms;
• Ensures coordination and cooperation with special envoys, independent experts or commissions of inquiry, as relevant, in incorporating recommendations into the human rights strategy of the Mission;
• Regularly briefs diplomatic community on human rights situation on the country;
• Ensures gender considerations are included and reflected in all human rights activities and outputs and ensure compliance with the UN commitment to promote gender equality and mainstreaming in Mission activities, in cooperation with the Mission’s Senior Gender Advisor;
• Leads or coordinates other substantive human rights-related components and programmes as determined by the mission structure.

Managerial responsibilities:

• Manages the UNJHRO technical cooperation programmes and the provision of substantive leadership, though, inter-alia, formulating the substantive work programme, allocating resources, preparing and reporting on budget and programme performance, evaluating staff performance, and ensuring appropriate staffing of the component;
• Maintains close relationship with OHCHR, including the geographic desk officers, ensures timely communications on the human rights situation, and ensures liaison with the human rights treaty monitoring bodies and special procedures;
• Performs other duties as required by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Qualifications

• PROFESSIONALISM: Proven sensitivity to conflict and post-conflict political and social environments and ability to adjust behaviours accordingly; Comprehensive knowledge of human rights principles, standards, international mechanisms and of related concepts, including the protection of civilians, transitional justice, humanitarian action, DDR, legislative, rule of law reforms and conflict-related sexual violence; Good knowledge of institutional mandates, policies, guidelines and methodologies related to UN peace operations; Capacity to maintain effective partnerships with relevant stakeholders to further the mandate of the organization, and to strategically advocate for the integration of human rights in various fora; Sound political judgment, as well as diplomacy, impartiality, and discretion; Ability to produce in-depth analysis of political, ethnic, racial, gender-based, social, economic and other human rights-related problems to assess their impact and to provide concrete strategy recommendations to redress situations; Capacity to lead the continual improvement of human rights-related work processes and ability to apply best management practices to obtain optimum performance of the human rights component; Understanding of the relevance of information collected by various UN actors for human rights analysis; Sound knowledge of the political background and human rights situation in the country or region; Proven representational, negotiation and managerial skills; Understanding of the relevance of information and data management and its applicability to human rights work; Ability to work and act under pressure in a politically and psychologically difficult environment, with a minimum of comfort and in precarious security conditions; Shows pride in work and in achievements; Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations;
• 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;
• 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. 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;
• JUDGEMENT AND 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.

Education

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in human rights, international relations, political science, law or a related area. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

• A minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible professional experience at national and international levels in the fields of human rights, humanitarian action, political or social affairs, including in the field of human rights is required;
• Experience in the monitoring and investigating of human rights violations, including in the field, is required;
• Experience in management and leadership roles including the supervision of large teams is required;
• A proven record of advisory experience to senior governmental representatives in the area of human rights is required;
• Prior experience coordinating multi-sectoral response to human rights protection concerns including through engaging with military and police for the protection of civilians is required;
• Professional experience working with United Nations Country Teams, donors and governmental representatives, including advocating for the promotion and respect of human rights is required;
• Professional experience working with the United Nations Common System, or other international or nongovernmental organization, advocating for the promotion of and respect for human rights in a conflict or post-conflict environment is required;
• Experience advising transitional justice institutions and/or working with transitional justice mechanisms is desirable;
• Experience in integrating human rights into humanitarian response is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position, fluency in oral and written English and French is required. Knowledge of another United Nations official language is an advantage.

Application instructions

Please be sure to indicate you saw this position on geopolist.com