Human Rights Associate Officer, Human Rights Programme, Grade P2

Organizational setting and reporting

The associate officer will work in the Human Rights Programme of the Division of Programmes of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.  The incumbent will report to the Manager of the Human Rights Programme.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the associate officer will be entrusted with the following duties:

• Researches, collects and analyses information pertaining to human rights matters at the international, regional and national levels and their relevance for parliaments and their members; 
• Drafts correspondence, decisions and proposes follow up steps in the context of the work of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians.
• Contributes to reflections and actions to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the work of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians;
• Attends and reports on, as required, the meetings held in Geneva of the United Nations Human Rights Council, the UN Human Rights Committee, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, and civil society-related meetings;
• Participates and assists in organizing the IPU human rights events scheduled to take place during the consultancy;
• Performs other related duties as required.

The work involves frequent interaction with the following:

• UN experts and staff;
• Representatives of intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations;
• Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff;
• Staff of the IPU Secretariat.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Good knowledge and understanding of the field of human rights and the UN human rights mechanisms; in particular the role of parliaments in protecting and promoting human rights as well as research and analytical skills. Ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess impact on the human rights situations. 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.
• Planning and organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates 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.
• 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 audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; is able to work in a multi-cultural and multi ethic environment; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Qualifications

Education: Master’s Degree in Law or a related subject.

Professional experience: At least three years of progressively responsible experience working at national and international levels in the human rights or related fields. Experience with parliaments will be an advantage.

Languages: Oral and written proficiency in English and French, including the ability of drafting to a high standard in at least one of these languages; knowledge of a third official UN language, in particular Arabic or Spanish, is a very important advantage.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be followed by competency-based interview.

Compensation

The Inter-Parliamentary Union offers an attractive salary and benefits package comparable to that of other international organizations headquartered in Geneva commensurate with education and experience.

Indicative Annual Net Salary at the P-2 level (entry level, net of tax)

USD 47’322 at single rate (plus allowance for primary dependants if applicable).

Post Adjustment

A post adjustment for Geneva will be paid in addition to the above amount taking into account the exchange rates established by the International Civil Service Commission (website: http://icsc.un.org/). This rate stands at 77.01% for November 2019.

Employment policy

The position will be filled through an international recruitment process that will be open to internal and external applicants. From among equally qualified candidates, preference will be given to the under-represented sex and persons from countries not represented in the IPU Secretariat.

The contract for the position will run until 31 December 2021, with a 3-month probation period, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding.