Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Human Rights Officer (Legal Adviser) will be responsible for the following duties:

• Advises the team on matters related to the applicable legal framework and the legal standards applicable to the human rights situation under investigation;
• Conducts analysis and research on various legal matters pertaining to the investigation, and contributes to drafting the investigation plan;
• Suggests legal qualifications of gathered information, advises on the standard of proof and determines responsibilities and, where possible, identifies those responsible;
• Provides advice on different legal issues and assists in drafting legal opinions, memoranda and other briefing documents for Members and the Fact Finding Mission staff;
• Ensures legal accuracy of all documents, including reports, submissions, press releases etc., prepared by the Fact Finding Mission;
• Identifies trends and patterns of human rights violations and abuses, and violations of international criminal law and international humanitarian law;
• Drafts the legal framework and analysis of the Fact Finding Mission's reports and ensures consistency of findings, conclusions and recommendations with the mandate, applicable law and information gathered;
• Conducts information gathering activities under the guidance of the Investigation Team Leader, including interviews and the collection and analysis of open sources material and satellite imagery;
• Ensures the legal analysis and legal qualification of the findings integrate gender perspective, reflecting the gender dimensions and gendered impact of the violations;
• Advises the Coordinator and the team on the legal findings and discusses the possible recommendations in particular, on accountability measures.
• Performs other duties as required.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in international law, or another discipline related to human rights is required.
• A first-level university degree with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree

Work Experience

• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible work experience in human rights, international humanitarian law, international criminal law is required.
• At least two years of experience in providing legal analysis to human rights investigative bodies or tribunals is required. Working experience in/on the region is desirable.