National Human Rights Expert (22 Positions) – Multiple locations, Ethiopia

United Nations Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights-East African Regional Office (OHCHR-EARO) is engaged in various activities to advance the promotion and protection of human Rights in the Africa sub-region, including Ethiopia, Djibouti and Tanzania in cooperation with the respective Governments, NHRIs, CSOs, Academia and other partners.

In response to the scale of threats against civilians in the humanitarian context in Ethiopia, and the support to the implementation of the cessation of hostilities agreements, OHCHR-EARO has adopted a comprehensive monitoring and protection approach, mainstreaming human rights in humanitarian action with a particular focus on engaging with humanitarian partners on human rights issues, relevant state stakeholders, civil society, in particular human rights NGOs supporting state authorities and national human rights institutions. This is done through the implementation of a wide range of activities, and more specifically monitoring, protection of civilians, monitoring, reporting advocacy on human rights and protection issues, capacity building, sensitization, and outreach. This approach is in line with OHCHR’s mandate under the Host Country Agreement (2018) and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Plan 2018-2021, which attach great importance to the protection of civilians, particularly in conflict situations.

OHCHR-EARO aims to monitor and report on the human rights situation in the humanitarian context in conflict-affected areas and individual protection cases; contribute to strengthening compliance with international human rights standards through training and awareness-raising activities; strengthen the capacity of relevant stakeholders in line with  human rights, humanitarian law and refugee law norms; establish a network of early warning and awareness-raising on the protection of human rights. This is done in close collaboration with Humanitarian partners, the UNCT, National Protection Cluster, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, and other relevant authorities and institutions, as well as international and local NGOs, women’s groups and community networks.

• Seek and collect information on human rights and protection issues from various sources (e.g. protection clusters, DRMO, Humanitarian partners, communications, publications, press);
• Provide advice for national laws to comply with international standards;
• Maintain awareness of existing human rights and protection issues in the area of responsibility;
• Review human rights, humanitarian and protection issues in the area of responsibility, including gender dimensions, and develop strategies in collaboration with the supervisor and team members to address these issues;
• Monitor the situation of human rights and protection issues, humanitarian concerns, refugees’ issues and other related human rights concerns in Ethiopia;
• Report on investigations, prosecutions, and trials of human rights violations before various jurisdictions.
• Conduct capacity building and technical assistance to local authorities, CSOs etc
• Have engagements/exchanges with relevant authorities and other influential actors with the aim of preventing or remedying human rights violations and or improving the human rights and humanitarian issues.
• Participate in human rights training programmes for law enforcement officials, representatives of civil society and human rights non-governmental organizations with the aim of strengthening national capacities, including the strengthening of the Rule of Law services.
• Contribute to the promotion and initiatives aimed at mobilizing communities and helping people to assert their rights.
• Identify protection and assistance needs for victims and witnesses of human rights violations, monitor, and support civil society in establishing a network for the protection of victims and witnesses.
• Drafts various reports and correspondence on issues relating to human rights, protection, and humanitarian issues.
• Liaise with the Government, NGOs, civil society organizations, UN agencies and other partners to build a baseline database on the human rights situation and protection issues, with particular attention to vulnerable groups.
• Regularly updates the Human Rights Database.
• Performs other related duties as required.

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge and understanding of human rights issues; Ability to identify issues such as political, racial, social, economic or ethnic issues; ability to identify problems, including or related to gender distinctions, that cause civil unrest in a country or geographical region; recognized research and analytical skills and, in particular, the ability to identify problems and participate in the search for solutions; basic knowledge of human rights mandates, institutional policies and principles, etc.; ability to find sources of information.

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 the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

TEAMWORK: Real sense of human relationships; Ability to work in a multicultural and multi-ethnic environment, with tact and respect for diversity.

PLANNING AND ORGANISING: Ability to set priorities and to define, coordinate and monitor his/her own workplan.

ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors commitments; Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments.

 

Required Skills and Experience

• MA/MSC., degree in a relevant field (except LLM), preferably in human rights, humanitarian law, law, political science, international relations or other disciplines relevant to human rights.

• At least 4 years of progressively responsible work experience in human rights, international humanitarian law, humanitarian and legal matters with Master’s degree. But a minimum of 6 years of working experience with a first degree would be considered.
• Human Rights related experience within the United Nations and or related human rights and humanitarian institutions is an advantage.
• Experience in monitoring and reporting, support of national human rights institution/s, in human rights and or development organisations is desirable. Field experience in a community setting is an asset.

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