Associate Human Rights Officer

### Org. Setting and Reporting 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 Associate Human Rights Officer reports directly to the Deputy Regional Representative of WARO. The Associate Human Rights Officer establishes and maintains relationships with colleagues across the office, UN entities, and partners to gather, verify, and analyse information on human rights issues, including their gender dimensions. He/she collaborates with internal teams to prepare analytical products, clarify human rights standards, and contribute to coordinated monitoring, reporting, and/or protection activities. He/she exchanges information with supervisors to discuss findings and receive guidance on politically sensitive or complex issues. The Associate Human Rights Officer also establishes external relationships with national authorities, civil society organizations, and affected communities to obtain verified information on alleged violations, provide clarification on human rights obligations, and contribute to coordinated efforts to address immediate and long-term human rights concerns. He/she supports capacity-building activities and helps to design targeted support measures in collaboration with external partners. He/she works under supervision with moderate independence. ### Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the Associate Human Rights Officer will be responsible for the following duties: • Monitor the implementation of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, and support follow-up on recommendations from human rights mechanisms, including treaty bodies, the Universal Periodic Review, special procedures and investigative mechanisms, to advance compliance and accountability. • Collect, document and analyse evidence-based information on civil, cultural, economic, social and political rights, including the right to development, within assigned thematic or geographic areas to support in-depth analysis, early warning, accountability, and informed decision-making, ensuring that human rights data is discoverable, interoperable and appropriately shared, including from gender and leave-no-one-behind perspectives. • Conduct human rights monitoring and field verification missions, including assessments and early-warning exercises, in line with UN standards and methodologies, and draft substantive analytical reports containing findings, trends and actionable recommendations. • Support fact-finding and investigative missions documenting violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, ensuring adherence to victim- and witness-protection standards and facilitating collaboration across components. • Draft, review and contribute to human rights reports, briefings, legal and policy analyses and other communications, and prepare analytical papers that inform strategies, policies, programmes and decision-making, with integration of gender and leave-no-one-behind considerations. • Provide technical research and substantive support to advisory processes with national counterparts, including reviewing draft legislation, policies and security-sector reforms to ensure alignment with international human rights standards. • Contribute to the design and delivery of human rights capacity-building activities for State institutions, security forces, NHRIs, civil society and other stakeholders, including training on human rights-based approaches that integrate gender and leave-no-one-behind perspectives. • Support and promote transitional justice processes, including truth-seeking, prosecutions and reparations, by contributing analysis, coordination support and background materials aimed at addressing impunity. • Provide research, coordination and follow-up support to treaty bodies, special procedures, the Universal Periodic Review and commissions of inquiry. • Support the delivery of training programmes and workshops across multiple platforms for different audiences by providing technical content, facilitation support and logistical coordination. • Prepare and update training materials through research and drafting inputs in collaboration and consultation with relevant UN Agencies and other partners. • Supervise the activities of junior staff, including training, assigning tasks and responsibilities, reviewing, advising, and ensuring that deadlines are met. ### Competencies • Professionalism: Ability to mobilize support from a wide range of partners and stakeholders; Skills to communicate complex and technical matters to diverse audiences; 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; Skills in drafting human rights reports, policy and other documents; Programme management. 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. Place 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. ### Education 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. ### Job - Specific Qualification Not available. ### Work Experience A minimum of 2 years of progressively responsible experience in human rights or related areas is required. Relevant experience may include, but is not limited to political affairs, public affairs, international relations, law, social sciences, economics, development, humanitarian affairs, or other related areas. Ability to mobilize support from a wide range of partners and stakeholder is required Skills to communicate complex and technical matters to diverse audiences 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 are desirable Skills in drafting human rights reports, policy and other documents is desirable Skills in incorporating a survivor-centred approach and survivor-led design into programmes and projects is desirable Programme management skills is required ### Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is requ