OSCE/ODIHR is recruiting for a Human Rights Adviser (Warsaw)

This position is open for secondment only and participating States are kindly reminded that all costs in relation to assignment at OSCE/ODIHR must be borne by their authorities. Candidates should, prior to applying, verify with their respective nominating authority to which extent financial remuneration and/or benefit packages will be offered. Seconded staff members in the OSCE Secretariat and Institutions are not entitled to a Board and Lodging Allowance payable by the Organization.

The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is the principal institution of the OSCE responsible for the human dimension. The ODIHR is active throughout the OSCE area in the fields of election observation, democratic development, human rights, tolerance and non-discrimination, and the rule of law. The ODIHR's assistance projects and other activities are implemented in participating States in accordance with the ODIHR's mandate.

In accordance with the ODIHR mandate, the Human Rights Department (HRD) assists participating States in fulfilling their obligations to protect and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms. Areas of work covered by the Department include monitoring and analysis of human rights developments in the OSCE area and the provision of expertise and technical assistance to enhance compliance with human dimension commitments; supporting the development of effective human rights education and capacity building; enhancing the protection of human rights while countering terrorism; addressing the relationship between human rights, gender and the security sector; and emphasizing human rights aspects of combating trafficking in human beings.

The Human Rights Education and Capacity Building Team is one of the five teams which are part of ODIHR's Human Rights Department. The Team designs, implements and monitors programmatic activities on human rights education and capacity building for government authorities, national human rights institutions, civil society in OSCE participating States, as well as OSCE staff in support of the mandate of the Human Rights Department in the human dimension area.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Deputy Head, Human Rights Department and in consultation with the Capacity Building Co-ordinator, the Human Rights Adviser will perform the following functions:

• Identifying, developing, implementing and delivering capacity building programmatic activities and projects on key human rights areas of concern for/with government authorities, national human rights institutions, non-governmental organizations and OSCE structures and missions;
• Monitoring and analyzing implementation of OSCE Human Dimension commitments related to human rights and fundamental freedoms with a view to identifying key areas of concern;
• Providing advice and recommendations and preparing general and issue-specific reports and/or other background materials on incidents, priority issues and situations related to human rights for ODIHR management;
• Responding to requests to the ODIHR on information about implementation of OSCE Human Dimension commitments related to human rights and fundamental freedoms in key areas of concern;
• Performing other related duties as assigned.

Necessary Qualifications:

- First level university degree in law, political science, international relations, or social sciences, with a specialization in human rights; an advanced university degree in international human rights law is strongly preferred;

- A minimum of 6 years of progressively responsible and relevant professional experience in the field of human rights including experience at the international level in an advisory function;

- Significant experience in developing and implementing capacity building activities;

- Sound knowledge of and/or experience in working with national human rights institutions is strongly preferred;

- Excellent knowledge of UN, Council of Europe and OSCE human rights standards;

- Experience in designing and implementing projects;

- In-depth knowledge of human rights monitoring and reporting methodology and practice;

- Ability and willingness to deploy to the field, sometimes on short notice, including in situations of increased risk for various types of monitoring missions;

- Ability to work with minimal supervision and under pressure;

- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English; working knowledge of Russian and/or other OSCE languages is desirable;

- Computer literate with practical experience in Microsoft applications;

- Ability to work with people of different nationalities, religions and cultural backgrounds;

- Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities.

This post is open for secondment only. Candidates are requested to apply through the OSCE desk of the respective Ministry for Foreign Affairs several days prior to deadline expiration to ensure timely processing of the application. Delayed nominations will not be considered.

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages the nomination of qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious, ethnic and social backgrounds.

The OSCE is a non-career organization committed to the principle of staff rotation.

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process. For further information, please click here.

By OSCE.org.