Human Rights Officer

Details

Mission and objectives

MONUSCO/MONUC was established in 1999 under the auspices of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). SCR 2277 (2016) requests MONUSCO to support efforts of the Government of DRC towards the protection of civilians, through a comprehensive approach involving all components of MONUSCO, including through reduction of the threat posed by Congolese and foreign armed groups and of violence against civilians, including sexual and gender-based violence and violence against children to a level that can be effectively managed by the Congolese justice and security institutions; and to support Stabilization through the establishment of functional, professional, and accountable state institutions, including security and judicial institutions. The project aims at a better understanding of the most serious violations of human rights law and international humanitarian law in DRC and supports the leadership of the Mission through informed policy and decision making on future vetting of security forces through risk assessment and mitigation, joint planning for MONUSCO operations, as well as advocacy efforts.

Context

Assignment is non-family (BUTEMBO)

Task description

Under the overall supervision of the Director of the UNJHRO and the direct supervision of the JHRO Field Coordinator, the Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: • Facilitate the implementation of human rights mandate in the designated area of responsibility (AOR); • Gather information, analyse and report on the human rights situation in the designated AOR, including through close cooperation with other United Nations actors and the community; • Follow up on individual cases and issues with authorities with the aim of stopping or preventing human rights violations or seeking remedial action by the authorities to prevent similar violations occurring in the future; • Establish and maintain contacts with government representatives, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations, UN agencies and other partners operating in the AOR; • Assist in conducting human rights capacity-building activities and in developing and implementing human rights training programmes; • Contribute to and/or draft various reports, communications, briefing notes, statements or other products; • Conduct fact-finding missions and investigations into abuses/violations of human rights or humanitarian law; • Ensure, coordinate and supervise the timely entry of accurate and verified human rights cases into an established database; conduct quality control and deliver statistics and trend reports as required; • Ensure human rights mainstreaming within UN planning and programming; • Ensure the integration of gender perspectives, with specific attention to issues related to women and girls, including conflict-related sexual violence, within all assigned human rights activities; • Represent the UN human rights office at working level meetings, as relevant; • When working with (including supervising) national staff or (non-)governmental counterparts, set aside dedicated time for capacity development through coaching, mentoring and formal and on-the-job training; and • Perform other related duties as required.