Human Rights Assistant

Date Posted: Jul 27, 2022

Job Detail

Location:

Balkh Bamian Herat Kabul
Company:

UNAMA
Type:

Full Time/Permanent
Shift:

First Shift (Morning)
Career Level:

Experienced Professional
Positions:

5
Vacancy number:

VA#55/07/2022
Experience:

5 Year
Gender:

Any
Salary:

As per Company salary scale
Degree:

Bachelors
Apply Before:

Aug 08, 2022

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About UNAMA

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) is a UN Special Political Mission established to assist the state and the people of Afghanistan in laying the foundations for sustainable peace and development. UNAMA was established on 28 March 2002 by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1401. Its original mandate was to support the implementation of the Bonn Agreement (December 2001). Reviewed annually, this mandate has been altered over time to reflect the needs of the country and was extended for six months, on 17 September 2021, by UN Security Council Resolution 2596 (2021).

The Council also requested the Secretary-General to prepare a written report by 31 January 2022 outlining “strategic and operational recommendations for the mandate of UNAMA in light of recent political, security, and social developments” in Afghanistan.

UNAMA is headed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Afghanistan, Deborah Lyons, who was appointed to the post in March 2020, replacing Tadamichi Yamamoto. Previous SRSG’s were– Lakhdar Brahimi who served from October 2001 to January 2004; Jean Arnault from February 2004 to February 2006, followed by Tom Koenigs from March 2006 to December 2007, Kai Eide from 2008 to 2010, Staffan di Mistura from 2010 to 2011, Ján Kubiš from 2012 to 2014, Nicholas Haysom from 2014 to 2016 and Tadamichi Yamamoto from 2016 to 2020.

Since 2008, and following a directive of the UN Secretary-General, UNAMA is an integrated mission. This means that the Special Political Mission, all UN agencies, funds and programmes, work in a multidimensional and integrated manner to better assist Afghanistan according to nationally defined priorities.

The SRSG is responsible for all UN activities in the country and directly oversees the Security Section, Strategic Communication Service, Human Rights Section, and Peace and Reconciliation. The SRSG’s Chief of Staff oversees UNAMA’s Field Offices.
Two deputy Special Representatives (DSRSG) oversee the main pillars of the mission – political and developmental issues. Included under these pillars are mission sections specializing in issues such as political analysis, reporting, and outreach, and donor coordination, as well as the coordination of UN agencies funds and programmes.

Job Description

The Human Rights Assistant usually reports to the Human Rights Officer and is responsible for the following duties:

Assists the supervisor in the planning of monitoring, investigation and capacity building, including by suggesting most appropriate interlocutors, contributing to initial assessments, taking part of human rights promotional activities, assisting in the development of monitoring questionnaires and assessment surveys, amongst others.
Assist when required in monitoring activities, including visits to detention facilities, courts, hospitals as required, as thus, and ready to deploy as required.
Receives and documents complaints on alleged human rights violations.
Assists in verifying and uploading human rights cases in established databases, and contributes to team information-sharing systems, and handling of case files.
Assists in drafting incident and daily reports and contributes to preparation of briefings and other communication materials.
Attends a variety of meetings, including with civil society, local authorities and human rights actors.
Assists in the logistical organization of all type of human rights activities.
Assists in the mapping of information for human-rights activities including, inter alia, mapping of local authorities, civil society representatives and institutions, local human rights actors, including defenders as well as sources of human rights information, that shall serve for collecting and verifying human rights information, monitoring protection risks, creating referral services for victims and witnesses of human rights violations, etc.
Makes suggestions for referral of cases to specialized services.
Supports the development of contacts and networks with civil society actors including NGOs.
Monitors local and national media, including social media, and draws attention of team leaders-to information that may be relevant to the work of the human rights component.
Provides language services as required.
Keeps abreast of UN developed policies, including those related to human rights work and takes part in human rights trainings.
Performs other related duties as required.

Job Requirements

Education: High school diploma or equivalent. Training in human rights/social work related is desirable.

Trainings on communication, project monitoring, logistical, budgetary & administrative issues an asset.

Amongst skills/knowledge:

Sensitivity to the political, social and cultural environment and ability to adjust behaviors accordingly.

Awareness of population diversity and of its needs, including of those in vulnerable situations.

Some knowledge of domestic legal system Good understanding of functioning of national institutions.

Some knowledge of fundamental human rights principles.

Awareness of mission mandate.

Ability to gather, verify, evaluate information from a variety of sources.

Ability to identify new and better approaches to work processes & to incorporate them in daily work: committed to gender equality.

Work Experience: A minimum of five (5) years of experience in social work, as legal/paralegal or a field closely related to human rights, e.g. supporting community development or humanitarian assistance; experience working with communities or victims; providing administrative/logistical support.

Experience that may be required/desirable: developing and/or implementing projects for communities at risk or population in vulnerable situations; working with national/international, legal/human rights standards; in human rights monitoring & reporting; providing training or participating in information or awareness raising campaigns; project management: assisting individuals at risk; working with NGOs civil society organizations or as a civil servant.

Languages: Fluency in written and oral English, Pashtu and Dari is required.

Special measure: The minimum work experience for GL-5 with a high school diploma is reduced to four (4) years, instead of the standard minimum required work experience of five (5) years, and it is reduced to three (3) years with a relevant university degree (Bachelor/Master). The special measure is extended until 31 December 2022 reduces the minimum required years of relevant work experience for filling positions for UNAMA General Service and National Professional Officer positions. The special measure is applicable to all applicants.

Skills Required

COMMUNICATION

Submission Guideline:

Applicants must accurately complete, sign and date the United Nations Personal History form (P.11) and forward the duly completed signed P.11 copy by e-mail to: unamava_substantive@un.org

Required documents: Serving UN staff members: The two most recent e-Performance Evaluation Reports must be submitted with the application.

For External applicants: Two most recent performance evaluation reports or if not available, two reference letters. If the applications received do not contain the latest two performance evaluation reports candidates must provide a short explanation as to why they are not available.

Applicants should indicate VA Number as VA#55/07/2022 and specify the location they are applying for ( e.g. VA#55/07/2022-Herat) in the email subject line when submitting duly completed and signed P.11 Form. UNAMA will not consider any applications received without VA Number and location in the email subject line and after the closing date of the VA. Incomplete P.11 will not be accepted.

Please note that any information provided on the P.11 form will be considered binding.

The selected candidates will be subject to a reference checks process to verify the information provided in the P.11 form.

Only applicants who are short-listed will receive an acknowledgement within two weeks from the deadline indicated on the VA.

Qualified female candidates are highly encouraged to apply

Submission Email:

unamava_substantive@un.org

Job Detail