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Job Title:  National Human Rights Officer

Organisation: Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

Duty Station:  Kampala, Uganda

About US:

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) represents the world’s commitment to universal ideals of human dignity. We have a unique mandate from the international community to promote and protect all human rights. The High Commissioner for Human Rights is the principal human rights official of the United Nations. The High Commissioner heads OHCHR and spearheads the United Nations’ human rights efforts. We offer leadership, work objectively, educate and take action to empower individuals and assist States in upholding human rights.

In implementing the mandate of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR Uganda carries out interventions under five thematic areas: Strengthening the rule of law and accountability for human rights violations; Enhancing and protecting Civic Space and people’s Participation; Integrating human rights in sustainable development; Enhancing equality and countering discrimination; and Increasing implementation of the international human rights mechanisms’ outcomes. OHCHR’s interventions relate to the provision of technical assistance, including legal advice and capacity building, monitoring of human rights issues, and engaging in advocacy, among others.

Job Summary:  OHCHR Uganda is seeking a National Human Rights Officer with a strong legal background to work on interventions in the thematic areas of International Human Rights Mechanisms’ outcomes and Enhancing and Protecting Civic Space and People’s Participation.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Contribute to the overall implementation of the technical cooperation mandate of OHCHR Uganda Country office:

• Identification of capacity needs from relevant stake holders for possible capacity building interventions
• Planning for and development of programme concept papers for the implementation of proposed capacity building interventions
• Participate in the conduct of human rights trainings and awareness raising interventions
• Provide technical support to relevant stakeholders regarding the integration of international human rights mechanisms into their interventions
• Provide support to civil society organizations in conducting research on pertinent human rights issues

Contribute to the overall implementation of OHCHR Uganda Country office’s overall human rights monitoring and reporting mandate:

• Receive victims of alleged human rights violations
• Interviewing victims of alleged human rights violations
• Registration of alleged human rights violations into the international, matrix for registration of complaints
• Verification of alleged human rights violations
• Advising alleged victims and source of human rights violations on alternatives where they could access remedies
• Drafting case notes
• Engaging internally or with other relevant actors on advocacy for corrective measures

Contribute to the internal planning, programming and reporting processes of OHCHR Uganda:

• Participate in the elaboration of OHCHR Uganda planning and programming documents
• Provide input to OHCHR Uganda periodic and ad hoc reports
• Provide periodical analysis inputs on the human rights contexts

Contribute towards ensuring the integration of diversity into OHCHR Uganda’s Programmatic planning and implantation processes:

• Proactively encourage the integration of gender and inclusion of groups in focus into OHCHR Uganda planning and implementation processes
• Encourage the inclusion of persons with disabilities, women, youth, ethnic minorities and sexual minorities during capacity building interventions

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• Advanced University degree (Master’s) in law, human rights, political sciences, international relations, social sciences or any other discipline related to human rights. A combination of relevant academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in national, regional, or international organizations or non-governmental organizations, closely related to the field of Human Rights.
• Experience working with international human rights standards, instruments and mechanisms, including capacity building on international human rights mechanisms.
• Experience receiving and documenting human rights complaints.
• Two additional years of working experience may be required to applicants with only a Bachelor’s University Degree.
• Fluency in spoken and written English. Fluency in the local language in area of coverage (Luganda) is also required.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Achieve Results – LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
• Think Innovatively – LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
• Learn Continuously – LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
• Adapt with Agility – LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
• Act with Determination – LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
• Engage and Partner – LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion – LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Functional & Technical competencies:

• Legal – Legal analysis skills : The ability to digest a large amount of information and facts in order to frame and understand an issue, apply the legal framework to the particular set of facts and present a coherent and comprehensive analysis of the situation presented in order to deliver practical and meaningful advice. This skill includes the ability to provide an objective assessment of the case, the organization’s best arguments for proceeding and a recommended course of action. It also includes the capacity to think creatively and flexibly, within the applicable legal framework.
• Legal – Knowledge of applicable legal framework : Understanding of the legal norms as applied to the United Nations in general, and to UNDP in particular. This includes an understanding of the structure, functioning and operations of UNDP within the broader UN system and the application of international treaties, including the UN Charter, GA resolutions, the relevant basic country assistance agreement and UN system-wide legal instruments, as well as an understanding of the internal legal framework (financial regulations and rules, policies, and procedures) of UNDP.
• Legal – Legal writing skills: The ability to analyse fact patterns and present argumentation in written form. This includes the ability to draft memoranda, legal briefs and other submissions to external parties, in both an advocacy and objective format, and legal opinions. It also includes the ability to convey legal analysis and recommendations to internal parties in written form, with a particular view towards communicating for the particular audience who may not be a lawyer or have legal background.
• Business Management – Communication : Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels
• Business Management – Digital Awareness and Literacy: Ability and inclination to rapidly adopt new technologies, either through skillfully grasping their usage or through understanding their impact and empowering others to use them as needed
• Business Direction & Strategy – Business Acumen: Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome. Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization and ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks
• Business Development – Knowledge Facilitation: Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally

How to Apply:

All interested candidates who wish to join the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in the aforementioned capacity are encouraged to click on the link below and follow the application instructions after reviewing the job details.

Click Here

Deadline: 30^th May 2022

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