Expert on documentation of human rights violations (SSA)

Background:

The OSCE has a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects. It therefore addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, confidence- and security-building measures, human rights, combating human trafficking, national minorities, democratization, policing strategies, counter-terrorism and economic and environmental activities. All 57 participating States enjoy equal status, and decisions are taken by consensus on a politically, but not legally binding basis.

The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is the principal institution of the OSCE responsible for the human dimension. ODIHR’s activities are implemented in 57 participating States in accordance with ODIHR’s mandate. Among ODIHR’s main fields of activity is election observation as well as a large number of assistance projects in the areas of democratic institution building, the rule of law and human rights. 

The Human Rights Department works to assist OSCE participating States in maintaining a human rights-based approach in addressing all security challenges and in protecting and promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, through gender-sensitive monitoring, capacity building and expert advice on laws, policies and practices. 

Following the military attack of the Russian Federation against Ukraine on 24 February 2024, ODIHR immediately reacted to this international armed conflict by introducing Ukraine Monitoring Initiative (UMI). The purpose of the monitoring initiative is to document the most serious violations of human rights and humanitarian law standards, providing accurate, timely and up-to-date information to the OSCE Troika, participating States and to a public audience where it is important to do so. These include interim assessment reports and a final public report furthering efforts to ensure accountability for violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. UMI adopted a staged approach with the need to remain adaptable to the challenges of the situation on the ground during the implementation of the initiative. Currently, ODIHR is successfully implementing all four approaches in the framework of UMI, whereas it conducts remote monitoring, on-ground monitoring both in Ukraine and countries bordering Ukraine as well as capacity-building activities. The latter component needs further tailoring and adaptation to the realities in Ukraine and emerging needs of the counterparts on the ground.

In the framework of UMI, ODIHR intends to engage with a capacity building initiative, which will help civil society and human rights defenders in Ukraine and the wider OSCE region to adapt to crisis and new circumstances by enhancing their capacity to document human rights violation while in difficult situation. Drawing from the experience of civil society in Ukraine, documenting human rights violations rising from the armed conflict and adapting to its unique challenges, ODIHR plans to develop a capacity building tool on the topic of documentation of human rights violations in times of conflict and crisis, including post-conflict situations, shrinking civic space, pandemics, state of emergencies and securitization of human rights, that different countries in the OSCE region experience.

The capacity building is intended to be done in the form of the online course, titled, ‘Documenting human rights violations in times of conflict and crisis’, hosted on FreedomLab platform. The course will serve as a comprehensive tool for those who would like to enhance their knowledge in documenting violations of human rights in difficult situations. The e-course will be available in English, Russian and Ukrainian.

Objective of Assignment: 

ODIHR’s Human Rights Defenders team requires the services of an international consultant, expert in documentation of human rights violations, to assist in the development the content of the e-learning course “Documenting human rights violations in times of conflict and crisis”. The consultant will work closely with the ODIHR Human Rights Adviser and the capacity building team of the Human Rights Department.

Duration of Assignment:

20 days 

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the Human Rights Adviser, the successful candidate will be tasked with the following duties:

1. Participate in meetings and cooperate with the ODIHR Human Rights Adviser and the ODIHR Human Rights Defenders team (capacity building) and with selected CSOs;
2. In collaboration with the ODIHR team, advise on the structure, the format and on the outline of the content of the e-course on the topic of documenting human rights violations in times of conflict and crisis;
3. Draft scripts (numbers to be agreed based on the defined outline) for video lectures for agreed modules on different topics of documenting human rights violations in times of crisis (5-6 pages per script);
4. Identify and recommend to ODIHR resources and materials relevant to the topics of documenting human rights violations, including in difficult contexts, in both English and Russian;
5. Coordinate and liaise with human rights defenders and/or CSOs who have specific expertise in documenting human rights violations in their local context and advise and assist ODIHR in integrating their lessons-learnt and testimonies and/or developing case studies regarding different difficult contexts in the e-course.

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, please see: http://www.osce.org/odihr 

Necessary Qualifications:

• University degree in human rights or related field;
• Minimum 6 years of professional experience in the field of human rights, including documenting human rights violations;
• Experience in designing and delivering training and capacity building activities;
• Experience in carrying out human rights documentation in difficult contexts, including conflict or post-conflict situations, crises, natural disasters, or emergencies;
• Knowledge of challenges, risks and security issues in documenting human rights in difficult contexts;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate it into tasks and activities;
• Excellent knowledge of English, including excellent oral communication and drafting skills;
• Knowledge of Russian and Ukrainian is an asset.
   

Remuneration Package:

Remuneration will be based on the selected consultant's/expert's qualifications, experience, the tasks and deliverables for this position and in accordance with the OSCE established rates.

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/.

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration.

Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization. 

Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.