National Human Rights Officer
Location: Regional Office for Southern Africa, Maseru, Lesotho
Reports to: UN Resident Coordinator and the Regional Representative for Southern Africa or designee
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the National Human Rights Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
- Supports implementation of the OHCHR component of a joint UN programme on supporting community-driven violence reduction and sustainable peace in Lesotho. This includes results-based programme management design, planning, implementation, and reporting.
- Provides technical and capacity building support to government, civil society, the UNCT and other national stakeholders on human rights including in the development of national laws, policies, and institutions and mainstreaming human rights in development programming in compliance with international and regional human rights standards.
- Conducts substantive research and analysis of human rights issues/events and assesses their impact on the human rights situation in assigned region or country.
- Collects and analyses human rights data and indicators in country/region of assignment, including gender-specific data and indicators.
- Provides support to sub-commissions, commissions and other bodies; follows-up on implementation of decisions rendered by policy-making bodies.
- Ensures human rights issues, including their gender equality dimensions considerations, are integrated into political, humanitarian and economic efforts and programme.
- Defines work plan for area assigned in accordance with established terms of reference.
- Represents UN human rights programme at working level meetings.
- Directs capacity-building efforts on human rights in region/country of assignment.
- Writes a variety of reports, communications, briefings, statements, etc., including to policy-making bodies.
- May provide guidance to new/junior staff.
- Performs other related duties as required.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, political science, international relations, social sciences or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
- A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, political affairs, international relations, law or related area is required.
- Experience on human rights capacity building and technical assistance is required.
- Experience in results-based programme management (planning, budgeting, implementation and reporting) and integrating human rights into programming on development is required.
- Experience working with national human rights institutions or establishing national human rights protection systems is desirable.
Deadline : Jun 24, 2025