Job Opportunities at United Nations

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the National Human Rights Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Supports the Kenya Country Programme to advance sustainable development through equal enjoyment of human rights, by addressing inequalities, and inclusion, and enhancing public participation and transparency in governance.
• Provides technical and capacity building support to government, civil society, and other national stakeholders on human rights including in the development of national laws, policies, and institutions in compliance with international and regional human rights standards.
• Conducts substantive research and analysis of human rights issues/events and assesses their impact on the human rights situation in assigned region or country.
• Collects and analyses human rights data and indicators in country/region of assignment, including gender-specific data and indicators.
• Provides support to sub-commissions, commissions and other bodies; follows-up on implementation of decisions rendered by policy-making bodies.
• Ensures human rights issues, including their gender equality dimensions considerations, are integrated into political, humanitarian and economic efforts and programme.
• Defines work plan for area assigned in accordance with established terms of reference.
• Represents UN human rights programme at working level meetings.
• Directs capacity-building efforts on human rights in region/country of assignment.
• Writes a variety of reports, communications, briefings, statements, etc., including to policy-making bodies.
• May provide guidance to new/junior staff.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, political science, international relations, social sciences or related field.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, political affairs, international relations, law or related area is required.
• Experience in advancing sustainable development is desirable.
• Experience in human rights technical assistance and capacity building is desirable.

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Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Associate National Human Rights Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Supports the Kenya Country Programme in ensuring the implementation of recommendations from international and regional human rights mechanisms.
• Supports the Kenya Country Programme to advance human rights, particularly in relation to the administration of justice and accountability.
• Researches and collects information pertaining to human rights matters, including their gender dimensions, from a variety of data sources (e.g. communications, publications, the press) to keep abreast of issues/events and provide up-to-date information; assists in the analysis of information, to include the impact on the countries and thematic mandates on the human rights situation in assigned area.
• Drafts a variety of reports and correspondence relating to human rights matters.
• Participates in hearings and consultations; prepare summaries of results.
• Maintains awareness of current human rights issues, to include relevant political and legal developments in the country concerned.
• Participates in human rights training programmes for national law enforcement officials, representatives of the civil society and human rights non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in order to promote national capacity building.
• Participates with other HROs in discussions with relevant authorities and other influential actors with the aim of stopping or preventing human rights violations or seeks other remedial action by the authorities to prevent similar violations occurring in the future.
• Liaises with government, NGOs, Civil Society organizations, UN agencies and other partners to create baseline data on the human rights situation, with special attention to vulnerable groups.
• Contributes to the collection and analysis of data as well as identification of trends or patterns and provides draft insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Education

• Advanced university degree or equivalent in law, political science, international relations, social sciences or other disciplines related to human rights.
• A first level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

• A minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in law, human rights, political affairs, international relations or related area is required.
• Experience in advancing accountability process and the administration of justice is desirable.
• Experience in human rights technical assistance and capacity building is desirable.