Associate Human Rights Officer, Sarajevo

Org. Setting and ReportingThe position is located in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) office in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Based on the global mandate of OHCHR, the office monitors the human rights situation, and engages with and support relevant authorities and other stakeholders, to advance the promotion and protection of human rights in the country. The office also supports the United Nations country team to integrate human rights across the work of the United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Under the supervision of the Deputy Head of Office, the incumbent is responsible for implementing the activities of the office in the area of anti-discrimination. The Human Rights Officer monitors and analyses relevant developments, supports engagement with authorities and other stakeholders as well as advocacy, contributes to reporting, and provides technical advice. ResponsibilitiesWithin delegated authority, the Associate Human Rights Officer will be responsible for the following duties: - Monitor the implementation of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, and support follow-up on recommendations from human rights mechanisms, including treaty bodies, the Universal Periodic Review, special procedures and investigative mechanisms, to advance compliance and accountability. - Collect, document and analyse evidence-based information on civil, cultural, economic, social and political rights, including the right to development, within assigned thematic or geographic areas to support in-depth analysis, early warning, accountability, and informed decision-making, ensuring that human rights data is discoverable, interoperable and appropriately shared, including from gender and leave-no-one-behind perspectives. - Conduct human rights monitoring and field verification missions, including assessments and early-warning exercises, in line with UN standards and methodologies, and draft substantive analytical reports containing findings, trends and actionable recommendations.Draft, review and contribute to human rights reports, briefings, legal and policy analyses and other communications, and prepare analytical papers that inform strategies, policies, programmes and decision-making, with integration of gender and leave-no-one-behind considerations. - Draft, review and contribute to human rights reports, briefings, legal and policy analyses and other communications, and prepare analytical papers that inform strategies, policies, programmes and decision-making, with integration of gender and leave-no-one-behind considerations. - Collect, verify and analyse multi-source information on thematic and country-specific human rights situations, ensuring data quality, methodological compliance and gender-responsive analysis. - Prepare analytical products, including lessons learned and trend analyses, to inform targeted human rights strategies, crisis prevention and response, and policy and programme development. - Provide technical research and substantive support to advisory processes with national counterparts, including reviewing draft legislation, policies and security-sector reforms to ensure alignment with international human rights standards. - Provide substantive professional support to national and regional counterparts in strengthening human rights systems, institutions and frameworks, including complaints mechanisms, victim and witness support services, engagement with international human rights mechanisms, and implementation of recommendations. - Contribute to the design and delivery of human rights capacity-building activities for State institutions, security forces, NHRIs, civil society and other stakeholders, including training on human rights-based approaches that integrate gender and leave-no-one-behind perspectives. - Support the integration of international human rights norms and standards into political, peace and security, humanitarian, development and economic frameworks and processes, contributing to efforts to address impunity and structural human rights challenges. - Provide professional support to authorities and non-State actors in integrating human rights standards into development and economic policies and programmes, including national development plans and Voluntary National and Local Reviews. - Engage with UN entities, UN Country Teams, regional coordination mechanisms and development and economic actors to integrate human rights, including gender dimensions, into policies, programmes and cooperation frameworks. - Provide research, coordination and follow-up support to treaty bodies, special procedures, the Universal Periodic Review and commissions of inquiry. - Provide professional research, analysis and policy advisory support on human rights issues related to economic policy and sustainable development, including poverty, inequality and development financing, contributing inputs to UN analytical and cooperation frameworks. - Engage with youth networks to support advocacy for youth rights and meaningful participation in civic, political and decision-making processes. - Support effective communication and public information efforts by contributing drafting, technical and coordination inputs to amplify human rights messaging. - Contribute to the collection and analysis of data as well as identification of trends or patterns and provide draft insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. - Support the delivery of training programmes and workshops across multiple platforms for different audiences by providing technical content, facilitation support and logistical coordination. CompetenciesPROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of international human rights law, norms, and standards. Knowledge of regional and international human rights mechanisms. Analytical thinking skills. Ability to mobilize support from a wide range of partners and stakeholders. Skills in designing, delivering, and evaluating capacity-building and training programmes. Knowledge of sustainable development and its intersection with economic, environmental, social and other human rights, with a particular focus on combating poverty and inequality. Knowledge of sustainable development and its intersection with economic, environmental, social and other human rights, with a particular focus on combating poverty and inequality. Knowledge of the application of the promotion and protection of economic, social and cultural rights, including within the context of addressing inequalities. Knowledge of human rights monitoring, documentation, analysis, research and reporting methodologies, including planning, coordinating and conducting field missions. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. PLANNING & ORGANIZING: 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. 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. EducationAdvanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in human rights, law, political science, international relations, social sciences, economics, public policy, sustainable development, humanitarian affairs or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Job - Specific QualificationNot available. Work ExperienceA minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in human rights or related areas is required. Relevant experience may include, but is not limited to political affairs, public affairs, international relations, law, social sciences, economics, development, humanitarian affairs, or other related areas. Knowledge of international human rights law, norms, and standards is required. Knowledge of regional and international human rights mechanisms is required. Analytical thinking skills is desirable. Ability to mobilize support from a wide range of partners and stakeholders is desirable. Skills in designing, delivering, and evaluating capacity-building and training programmes is desirable. Knowledge of sustainable development and its intersection with economic, environmental, social and other human rights, with a particular focus on combating poverty and inequality is desirable. Knowledge of the application of the promotion and protection of economic, social and cultural rights, including within the context of addressing inequalities is desirable. Knowledge of human rights monitoring, documentation, analysis, research and reporting methodologies, including planning, coordinating and conducting field missions is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. Either Bosnian or Croatian or Serbian is required. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult for details).