This position is located in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), mandated by the United Nations Security Council towards the protection of civilians, human rights monitoring, support for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and for the implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement. UNMISS is a non-family mission.

The Senior Victims’ Rights Officer will be based in Juba. Within the delegated authority the incumbent will have dual reporting lines to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of South Sudan through the Deputy, SRSG HC/RC and the Assistant Secretary General, Victims’ Rights Advocate (VRA) at UNHQs.

Responsibilities

Within the limits of delegated authority, the Senior Victims' Rights Officer may be responsible for, but not limited to the following duties:

• Support the implementation of the Victim’s Rights Advocate (VRA)-led policies, procedures and programmes on victims' assistance and support in relation to sexual exploitation and abuse at the field level. Provide support to processes that will allow victims to have access to justice and legal services, including remedies and reparations. Support UN-system actors in the field in their efforts to facilitate paternity claims on behalf of victims. Provision of victim assistance is monitored and recorded for reporting and evaluation purposes.
• Maintain direct and regular contact with victims, in line with the strategic vision on victims' assistance and support, judicial processes and related outcomes, as set out by the HQ VRA, and ensure that mechanisms and policies (including safeguarding) are in place to support this task. Cooperate with UN-system actors in the field to ensure that adequate mechanisms are in place to raise awareness among victims and the greater communities as to the available complaint/reporting mechanisms and support services available. Where survivors/witnesses are under 18, ensure that consent is obtained from the parents or guardian (caregiver and that appropriate safeguarding policies are in place -and implemented.
• Maintain oversight over mapping of relevant services by UN-system actors in the field, which are intended to identity networks of service providers, including in the areas of medical, psychological, legal and community reintegration, in coordination with Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator and relevant UN entities, making recommendations as to gaps and opportunities in specific country situations. In consultation with UN-system actors in the field, local civil society organizations and service providers, in line with the "Uniform Protocol on the Provision of Assistance to Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse”, contribute to the assessment of assistance needs to inform mapping exercises. Take corrective measures where needed to address gaps in such mapping and services. Advise the Head of Mission and the HQ VRAs as well as UN-system actors in the field on lessons learned, best practices, gaps and opportunities in strengthening assistance and support to victims.
• Coordinate with UN-system actors in the field to ensure that they receive updated information on assistance provided to victims of sexual exploitation and abuse, including on the status of judicial and administrative proceedings in host countries and countries of alleged perpetrators.
• Engage with local authorities to enhance the protection of victims, during investigation, criminal and disciplinary/administrative proceedings and to assure that victims, including child victims, are treated with child- and gender-sensitive care in respect of their rights, including the right to be advised of the outcome of the proceeding via updates from the relevant Member State.
• Identify and work closely with legal assistance networks, national human fights institutions, relevant regional and sub-regional human rights bodies, civil Society organizations and victims' groups that can provide individualized support and assistance to victims, their families and survivors, including during investigation and judicial/administrative proceedings taking place at the field level.
• Perform other duties assigned.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of victims’/humanitarian assistance, human rights, and gender issues, particularly in the context of related investigations, peacekeeping and/or humanitarian environments. Knowledge of issues related to sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual and gender-based violence, and child protection. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work.

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; Uses time efficiently

Judgment/ Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; Gathers relevant information before making a decision; Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; Checks assumptions against facts; Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; Makes tough decisions when necessary.

Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

Education

Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in human rights, law, humanitarian affairs, political science, international affairs, public administration, social science, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten (10) years with a masters degree and twelve (12) years with a bachelor degree of progressively responsible experience in human rights, humanitarian affairs, gender, political affairs, security sector or a related area is required
Experience with multi-stakeholder policy and/or advocacy processes at the national level is desirable.
Field experience working in multi-lateral or non-governmental in a conflict or post-conflict setting is desirable

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in both oral and written English is required.

Assessment

Previously rostered candidates are not subject to any further assessment and as such, will not be invited for such an assessment.

Special Notice

This "Recruit from Roster" job opening is only open to roster applicants who are already placed on pre-approved rosters, following a review by a United Nations Central Review Body. Only roster applicants who were placed on rosters with similar functions at the same level are considered to be eligible candidates. Eligible applicants receive an email inviting them to apply. Rostered applicants are encouraged to apply only if they are interested and available to take up the position at the duty station/s specified in the Job Opening. Applying to this job opening carries an expectation to accept the offer, if selected.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.