Human Rights Officer (UN Victims’ Rights Advocate)

About the role

The Office of the Victims’ Rights Advocate (OVRA) seeks a Human Rights Officer to support its mandate of ensuring victims of sexual exploitation and abuse receive dignified, victim‑centred assistance across the United Nations system. Based in New York, the incumbent will work under the direction of the Human Rights Officer (P4) and the Victims’ Rights Advocate/Assistant Secretary‑General.

Key responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate gender‑responsive activities aligned with the Victims’ Rights Advocate’s mandate.
• Conduct substantive research and analysis to develop policy and advocacy documents.
• Collect and analyse human‑rights data, providing recommendations for action.
• Liaise with UN departments, agencies and external partners to ensure victims receive appropriate care and follow‑up.
• Integrate human‑rights and gender‑equality considerations into political, humanitarian and economic programmes.
• Define work plans and support the development of victim‑centred training programmes for civilian and uniformed personnel.
• Maintain contacts across the UN system, other international organisations and governments, briefing representatives and offering policy recommendations.
• Represent the Victims’ Rights Advocate at working‑level meetings and produce reports, briefings, statements and other communications.
• Provide guidance to junior staff and perform other related duties as required.

Required profile

• Strong knowledge of human‑rights issues, including political, ethnic, racial, gender‑equality and socio‑economic dimensions.
• Familiarity with mandates of human‑rights organisations, UN policies and procedures.
• Excellent research, analytical and report‑writing skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across diverse UN entities and external partners.
• Experience in developing and delivering training on victim‑centred approaches.

Required skills

• Research and analytical expertise.
• Report writing and communication.
• Policy development.
• Stakeholder liaison and coordination.