The World Organisation Against Torture Office in Geneva is seeking to recruit a Human Rights Officer to reinforce the organisation’s Human Rights Defenders Programme.

ABOUT THE OMCT

The OMCT works with around 200 member organisations which constitute its SOS-Torture Network, to end torture, fight impunity and protect human rights defenders worldwide. Together, we make up the largest global group actively standing up to torture in more than 75 countries. Helping local voices be heard, we support our vital partners in the field and provide direct assistance to victims. Our international secretariat is based in Geneva, with offices in Brussels and Tunis.

ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES

Embedded in the Human Rights Defenders Programme and under the supervision of the Director of the HRD Programme, the Human Rights officer is primarily responsible for ensuring the implementation of casework in one to two regions including by drafting, editing, and disseminating urgent alerts, as well as providing appropriate responses to risk situations and/or violations of human rights faced by HRDs through other means of communication, advocacy actions, direct aid, etc.

Key responsibilities of the position include:

Implementation

• Draft and edit urgent interventions, press releases, reports, and other materials in cases of human rights defenders facing human rights violations.
• Disseminate the urgent interventions, including by posting them on the OMCT website and through OMCT and Observatory social media and include and update the information in the internal database.
• Support the development and implementation of advocacy actions for the protection of HRDs and communities at risk at the national, regional and international levels, jointly with members of the OMCT SOS-Torture Network and other local and international partners.
• Support the development and implementation of online and offline campaigns for the protection of HRDs at risk with members of the SOS-Torture Network and other local and international partners, in coordination with the OMCT Communication, the regional desks and the Anti-Torture and Network programmes.
• Support the design and implementation of holistic protection strategies for human rights defenders including through collaborating with the grants team.

External Relations, including with partners and donors

• Represent the OMCT/Human Rights Defenders Programme/Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders in meetings, and forums, particularly with regards to UN Advocacy and the accompaniment of advocacy missions in Geneva as deemed appropriate.

Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning 

• Support monitoring, reporting and evaluation activities, sharing outcomes, learnings and commitment of next steps.
• Draft activity reports on all implemented activities and contribute to donor reports in collaboration with OMCT’s Development programme.
• Contribute to /support the drafting of project proposals and fundraising activities.

Programme Collaboration 

• Demonstrate ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams, fostering a culture of open communication and shared goals.
• Play a key role in driving successful programme outcomes through active participation, idea-sharing, and constructive feedback within collaborative initiatives.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

• University degree in law, international relations, political or social sciences, communications or related field, a post graduate degree being an asset.
• At least one year of practical experience in international human rights work, including through internships. Previous work on human rights defenders is an asset.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of international human rights law, human rights NGOs, UN procedures, EU institutions and regional mechanisms for the protection of human rights.
• Excellent oral and written drafting and communication skills in English, and either French or Spanish is an essential requirement; knowledge and drafting skills in the other language would be a strong asset.
• Excellent research skills with a proven ability to synthesize and condense large amounts of information into succinct formats.
• Excellent interpersonal, networking and communication skills managing conflicting demands, meeting deadlines and adjusting priorities.
• Ability to adapt to multidisciplinary work in the environment of a multicultural team and to engage with partners in different countries and working in difficult security environments.
• Ability to take initiatives and prioritise.

COMPETENCIES EXPECTED

• High ethical standards and proven commitment to core human rights principles, the rule of law and social justice causes.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to maintain collaborative relationships with people from diverse national and cultural backgrounds, across several time zones.
• Attention to detail: good at paying attention to detail, having a thorough way of working.
• Initiative and motivation: Able to use own initiative and work independently within agreed frameworks; motivated by achieving results and completing tasks and being accountable.
• Organization and prioritization: Strong organizational, prioritization, and time-management skills, enabling efficient and effective work.

WHAT WE OFFER

OMCT is an equal opportunities employer. We offer competitive salaries for Human Rights NGOs in Geneva with a minimum of 25 days holidays, usual social benefits, and the possibility for part-time working from home, as well as 5 days of paid leave for professional development.

APPLICATIONS

Applications comprising a motivation letter and a CV should be addressed to OMCT International Secretariat with the subject “Human Rights Officer”, by email to applications@omct.org.

Starting date: as soon as possible

Deadline for the applications: applications must be received by 10 March 2024.