United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Senior Human Rights Officer - Jobs in Ethiopia
Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Regional Office for East Africa in Addis Ababa. The Senior Human Rights Officer will operate under the overall guidance of the Chief of the Africa Branch and direct supervision of the Regional Representative, Human Rights , in close cooperation with the Peace Missions Support Section/New York. The incumbent will coordinate the OHCHR team supporting the establishment of a comprehensive compliance framework for African Union-led and African Union-authorized Peace Support Operations.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority and under the direct supervision of the Regional Representative, the Senior Human Rights Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
• Formulates human rights strategies, including from a gender equality perspective; develops a vision or direction for the work of the human rights Regional Office Unit and creates the conditions for implementing that vision or direction.
• Represents the High Commissioner on matters of human rights in relation to the African Union Compliance Framework Project.
• Proposes policy directives and plan of action to appropriate United Nations and African Union bodies for immediate and long- range solutions to human rights problems in relation to the African Union Compliance Framework Project.
• Oversees, leads and manages the implementation of OHCHR's project of support towards the establishment of a comprehensive compliance framework for African Union-led and African Union-authorized Peace Support Operations;
• Develops procedures, policies, measures and mechanisms for the effective implementation of the International Human Rights Law (IHRL)/International Humanitarian Law (IHL) compliance framework for the African Union- Peace Support Operations (AU-PSOs) including in the areas of integrating Human Rights and IHL in the planning of military operations and After-Action-Reviews; Casualty and Incident Tracking and Recording; Complaint reception; Accountability; Selection & Screening; Training; Monitoring & Reporting; Rules & Regulations;
• Designs, develops and implements significant policy and program changes to address regional or global human rights issues, including their gender dimensions.
• Formulates the programme of work, budget and medium-term plan of the unit and participates in the overall formulation and approval of the programme of work, and administrative matters concerning the African Union Compliance Framework Project.
• Prepares human rights reports on key sectors or key regional developments.
• Develops and maintains relations with officials at the highest levels of governments and advises them on human rights issues and policies.
• Coordinates and oversees human rights research initiatives.
• Supervises other human rights officers or organizational segments as assigned.
• Facilitates information sharing and liaison with the African Union (AU) and with UN partners on the African Union-UN peace and security agenda, including through organizing and participating in coordination meetings on developments affecting human rights compliance in African Union- Peace Support Operations (AU-PSOs).
• Performs other related duties as required.
Competencies
Professionalism: Knowledge of and exposure to a range of human rights issues including approaches and techniques to address and advise on highly sensitive and complex problems in their political, ethnic, racial, gender and socio-economic dimensions. Knowledge of institutional mandates of human rights organizations, prevailing policies and procedures.
Ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess impact on the human rights situation in the region or country of assignment, including the political environment and legal statutes as they pertain to human rights. Ability to complete in-depth studies and reach conclusions on possible causes and solutions to human rights problems in specific societies and systems.
Ability to relate and advise on human rights issues and perspectives, including their gender equality dimensions, to political, social, economic and humanitarian programmes in affected countries
Scholarship 2026/27
Current Scholarships 2026/2027 - Fully Funded
Full Undergraduate Scholarships 2026 - 2027
Fully Funded Masters Scholarships 2026 - 27
PhD Scholarships for International Students - Fully Funded!
Funding Opportunities for Journalists 2026/2027
Funding for Entrepreneurs 2026/2027
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