ASSISTANT HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER

This position is located in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), West Africa Regional Office (WARO), based in Banjul, The Gambia. The Assistant Human Rights Officer reports directly to the Deputy Regional Representative of WARO. The Assistant Human Rights Officer establishes and maintains relationships with colleagues within the office and other UN entities to collect, verify, and clarify information related to human rights concerns. He/she engages with supervisors and peers to exchange updates on alleged violations, align on monitoring activities, and receive guidance on integrating gender perspectives and protection considerations into their work. He/she interacts with programme teams to support the preparation of notes, field visit planning, and monitoring tasks. The Assistant Human Rights Officer also establishes external relationships with local authorities, community members, civil society organizations, and affected individuals to gather and verify information, explain human rights standards, facilitate referrals, and support awareness-raising efforts. These interactions are conducted under close supervision to ensure accuracy, consistency, and adherence to established methodologies.

Within delegated authority, the Assistant Human Rights Officer will be responsible for the following duties: • Assist in the collection of data for human rights monitoring and provide technical support for the tracking of recommendations from human rights mechanisms. • Assist in collecting, documenting, and managing evidence-based information on civil, cultural, economic, social and/or political rights, including the right to development, contributing to analysis, early warning and response, accountability and informed decision-making; and to identifying data gaps • Assist in the preparation and conduct of human rights monitoring and field verification missions, including assessments and early-warning exercises, in accordance with UN methodology, gender indicators and victim/witness protection standards, and provide input to drafting reports on findings and recommendations. • Assist in drafting human rights reports, briefings and other communications and provide technical support for the preparation of analytical papers that inform decision-making, incorporating gender and leave no one behind considerations under close supervision. • Assist in the delivery of human rights capacity-building programmes for State institutions, security forces, NHRIs, civil society and other stakeholders, contributing to materials and activities that incorporate human rights-based approaches and reflect gender and leave no one behind considerations under supervision. • Assist in efforts to promote transitional justice processes, including truth-seeking, prosecutions and reparations, contributing basic research and preparatory tasks to support activities aimed at fighting impunity under supervision. • Maintain confidentiality and integrity and handle sensitive information with discretion, ensuring compliance with the UN data privacy, security requirements, and standards. • Assist in supporting the delivery of training programmes and workshops using various platforms for different audiences by carrying out preparatory, logistical and administrative tasks to enhance the capacity of UN staff and partners.

• Professionalism: Working collaboratively; ability to mobilize support from a wide range of partners and stakeholders; knowledge of international human rights law, norms, and standards; skills in incorporating a survivor-centred approach and survivor-led design into programmes and projects; skills to integrate a human rights-based approach, leave no one behind, gender equality, and women's empowerment into all areas of work; Knowledge of human rights monitoring, documentation, analysis, research, and reporting methodologies, including planning, coordinating, and conducting field missions; Ability to conduct legal analysis; 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. • 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 the team agenda before the personal agenda. Supports and acts in accordance with the final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect one's own position. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. • Planning and organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required. Allocates an 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.

An advanced 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 is required.

Not available.

For candidates who hold a first level university degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent), a minimum of two years of progressively responsible professional experience at national and/or international levels in the human rights field is required. No experience is needed for candidates who hold an advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) Ability to mobilize support from a wide range of partners and stakeholders is required Knowledge of international human rights law, norms, and standards is desirable Skills to integrate a human rights-based approach, leave no one behind, gender equality and women's empowerment into all areas of work is required Knowledge of human rights monitoring, documentation, analysis, research and reporting methodologies, including planning, coordinating and conducting field missions, is desirable Ability to conduct legal analysis is required Skills in incorporating a survivor-centred approach and survivor-led design into programmes and projects is desirable

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult

https://languages.un.org

for details).

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Required Languages

Language

Reading

Writing

Listening

Speaking

English

UN Level II

UN Level II

UN Level II

UN Level II

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise, which will be followed by a competency-based interview

The appointment against this position is limited to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The candidate selected will be granted a fixed-term appointment limited (“FTAlimited”) in accordance with section 2.2 (b) of the administrative instruction ST/AI/2013/1 on Administration of fixed-term appointments. United Nations Secretariat staff members who meet the definition of "internal candidate" in staff rule 4.10, who are selected for a position subject to FTA-limited, will be reassigned to the position without a lien to their parent position. Extension of the appointment is subject to the extension of the mandate and/or the availability of funds. Candidates for the National Professional Officer category shall be of the nationality of the country where this position is located. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places 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. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

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.