Human Rights Officer

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) opened a fully-fledged standalone country office in Liberia on 1 April 2018 and operates under a host country agreement with the Government of Liberia to promote and protect human rights. OHCHR-Liberia implements the full mandate of the High Commissioner as stipulated in General Assembly resolution 48/141 of 20 December1993. The Office supports national efforts to strengthen respect for human rights through monitoring, reporting, technical assistance, capacity-building, and engagement with national and international human rights mechanisms. It works closely with Government institutions, National Human Rights Institution, integrity institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs), and other stakeholders to advance the rule of law, accountability, and protection of vulnerable populations.

Reporting to a designated Human Rights Officer under the overall supervision of the Representative, the Human Rights Officer (International UNV Specialist) supports the implementation of OHCHR Liberia’s mandate through programme development, human rights monitoring, reporting, policy advisory and technical cooperation. While contributing to result-based monitoring and reporting in line with the mandate of the office, the role primarily encompasses substantive responsibilities in: - Human rights monitoring and reporting, including in detention and prison settings - Strengthening the rule of law and justice sector reforms, including addressing pre-trial detentions and access to justice to marginalized communities - Engagement with international human rights mechanisms, including the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), Treaty Bodies, and Special Procedures. The assignment also involves working closely with key national and international partners, including Government ministries (notably the Ministry of Justice, the Minister of Labor and the Ministry of Gender), the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR), the Bureau of Corrections and Rehabilitation (BCR), the National Mechanism for Implementation, Reporting and Follow -Up ( NMRF), the National Prevention Mechanism ( NPM) under the OPCAT, civil society organizations, and UN entities. The incumbent will also contribute to strengthening national capacities, supporting legislative and policy reforms, and ensuring alignment with international human rights standards and treaty reporting obligations.

Within delegated authority, the Human Rights Officer will be responsible for the following duties: Programme management, human rights monitoring, reporting, policy advisory, and technical cooperation - Provide technical support in the development and implementation of programme actions, ensuring integration of human rights and gender considerations - Support programme teams in strengthening results-based approaches and alignment with OHCHR strategic frameworks - Contribute to results-based monitoring and reporting processes, including development of indicators and data collection tools - Track and report on output and outcome-level results of human rights interventions in coordination with internal teams and implementing partners - Draft and compile monthly, annual, and thematic reports, project reports, mission reports, briefing notes, and other external communications - Support knowledge management through documentation of best practices and lessons learned. Human rights monitoring and rule of law - Conduct human rights monitoring missions, including in detention facilities, independently and jointly with national partners, and draft reports on the situations - Assess compliance with international human rights standards, including but not limited to the Mandela Rules, and identify protection concerns affecting persons deprived of liberty - Support monitoring and analysis of rule of law issues, including access to justice, pre-trial detention, and due process guarantees - Contribute to reporting and advocacy aimed at improving detention conditions and justice sector outcomes - Provide technical advice to national stakeholders on strengthening compliance with international human rights standards within the justice and detention systems - Upload cases of human rights violations in the Human Rights Cases Database. Engagement with international human rights mechanisms - Provide technical assistance to Government and national stakeholders in engagement with UN human rights mechanisms, including: the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), Treaty Bodies, and Special Procedures - Support the work of the National Mechanism for Implementation, Reporting and Follow-up (NMIRF), including coordination of reporting processes and follow-up on recommendations - Support analysis, tracking, and follow-up of recommendations and their alignment with national priorities and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - Support the work of the National Prevention Mechanism ( NPM) Capacity building and technical cooperation - Design and deliver capacity-building initiatives for Government institutions, national human rights institutions, and civil society organizations - Conduct training on human rights-based approaches to governance, detention and prison management, human rights monitoring and reporting methodologies, and international human rights standards - Support implementation of technical cooperation projects and strengthen capacities of national stakeholders. Coordination and partnerships - Strengthen collaboration with Government ministries, agencies and commissions, INCHR, BCR, civil society organizations, and UN partners - Support inter-agency coordination within the Government, UN Country Team on human rights, rule of law, and international human rights mechanisms - Contribute to programme development, including concept notes, policy inputs, proposals, and donor engagement initiatives.