Human Rights Officer (TJO)

About the role

The Human Rights Officer is based in the OHCHR Mauritania Country Office in Nouakchott and works under the direct supervision of the Country Representative. The post contributes to the implementation of OHCHR's mandate in Mauritania through human rights monitoring and analysis, technical cooperation, engagement with international human rights mechanisms, advocacy, partnership-building and the integration of human rights into national policies and UN programming.

Key responsibilities

• Monitor the implementation of human rights and international humanitarian law, follow up on recommendations from treaty bodies, the UPR and special procedures and investigative findings, and promote accountability.
• Collect, document and analyse evidence-based information on civil, cultural, economic, social and political rights, including the right to development, and help make human rights data discoverable, interoperable and shared.
• Draft, review and disseminate human rights reports, briefings and communications, and prepare analytical papers for strategy, policy and programme decisions.
• Support national and regional counterparts in strengthening their human rights systems, institutions and frameworks, including complaints mechanisms and victim and witness support services.
• Engage with UN leadership and partners on integrating human rights into protection, rule of law, the human rights economy, transitional justice and accountability.
• Support treaty bodies, special procedures, the UPR and commissions of inquiry through research, coordination and follow-up.
• Carry out communication activities and use data visualisation to turn data into insights for planning and reporting.
• Handle sensitive information in line with UN data privacy and security requirements, and help review training materials for practitioners.
• Supervise daily team activities, give technical guidance to junior staff and ensure outputs are delivered on time.

Required profile

• Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in human rights, law, political science, international relations, social sciences, economics, public policy, sustainable development, humanitarian affairs or a related field; a first-level degree plus two years of qualifying experience may be accepted instead.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in human rights or related fields.
• English is required; French is also a working language of the UN Secretariat.

Required skills

• Knowledge of international human rights law, norms and standards.
• Skills in drafting human rights reports, policy and other documents.
• Knowledge of human rights monitoring, documentation, analysis, research and reporting methodologies, including field missions.
• Ability to integrate a human rights-based approach, leave no one behind, gender equality and women's empowerment into all work.
• Ability to communicate complex technical matters to diverse audiences.