Human Rights Officer

  • Contract
  • Baghdad

UNV - United Nations Volunteers


Details

Mission and objectives

The United Nations has been assisting Iraq with the establishment of the Electoral Management Body (initially Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq, 2003, currently Independent High Electoral Commission), and the development of the institution´s capacities to administer electoral processes.
Despite major military operations against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), in November 2017, the political and security environment in the country remains complex and unpredictable
Regardless of the efforts on the development of technical capacities within IHEC over the years, public perception of the institution was declining, particularly after the 2018 legislative elections.
Since October 2019 the country has experienced major public unrest through continuous demonstrations and sit-ins in Baghdad and all over the country. Amongst demands for better delivery of public services, Iraqi street protests also called for government reforms, and organization of early elections – elections to be held before the normally expected date which would be the end of the current legislature, in May 2022.

Context

* Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including civil society organizations, grassroots community
members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels;
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
* Experience working in a conflict or post-conflict environment;
* Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;
* Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; * Sound security awareness;

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the overall supervision of the Chief, UNAMI Human Rights Office or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the International UN Volunteer Human Rights Officer will:
• Conduct proactive outreach and relationship-building through individual meetings and focus groups with demonstrators and activists of different ages and genders; members of organizing committees; representatives of political and civil society organizations involved in the protests as well activists with no such affiliation; journalists, doctors and others actively involved in either participating in demonstrations or promoting the goals of the protesters particularly through social media;
• Conduct human rights monitoring interviews with victims of arbitrary and incommunicado detention, abduction, torture and enforced disappearance;
• Undertake monitoring visits to places of detention;
• Proactively monitor all forms of traditional and new media, including social media, in order to monitor threats and intimidation against those participating in or supporting protests;
• Through individual and group meetings with community leaders, victims’ representatives and civil society organizations develop and deepen existing information gathering networks within the communities affected by disappearances;
• Support OHCHR/UNAMI engagement with relevant United Nations Treaty Body mechanisms and Special Procedures mandate holders, including facilitating the submission of Urgent Appeals and Urgent Actions on behalf of victims of arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances and torture;
• Engage with government and non-governmental organizations to support the submission of state reports and stakeholder reports to UN human rights mechanisms and treaty bodies dealing with torture and enforced disappearance
• Draft, review as appropriate, and ensure timely delivery of a variety of reports, briefings, analysis and other types of communications in compliance with established standards;
• Ensure the timely entry of accurate and verified human rights cases into an established database in compliance with established standards;
• Performs other duties as required.

Apply
To help us track our recruitment effort, please indicate in your cover/motivation letter where (vacanciesiniraq.com) you saw this job posting.