Posts Tagged ‘vacancy’

Special Rapporteur for human rights defenders: open vacancy for impartial and competent candidates

July 29, 2025

In March 2026, the UN Human Rights Council (the Council) will appoint the next Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights Defenders. The role of this Special Rapporteur is essential: they promote the work of those who defend human rights and they protect human rights defenders at risk. The Special Rapporteur serves in a voluntary capacity and is independent of the UN, States and non-governmental organisations. As other Special Rapporteurs, they are tasked by the UN to monitor and report on human rights situations around the world. They also provide advice and recommendations for the implementation of those rights.

The four rapporteurs until now have all been of exceptional calibre:

Mary Lawlor (Ireland)

2020-2026

She became a Board member of the Irish Section of Amnesty International in 1975, was elected Chair from 1983 -1987 and in 1988 became its Director. She founded Front Line Defenders in 2001 to focus specifically on the protection of human rights defenders at risk.

On 1 May 2020, she took up the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, where she has adopted a people-centred approach to the mandate. Her mandate was renewed for another three-year term by the UN Human Rights Council in April 2023.

She is also currently an Adjunct Professor of Business and Human Rights in the Centre for Social Innovation (CSI), School of Business, Trinity College Dublin.

[see also: https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/tag/mary-lawlor/]

Mr. Michel Forst (France)

2014 – 2020

Mr. Michel Forst (France) was Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders from June 2014 until April 2020. From 2008 to 2013, Mr. Forst was the UN Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Haiti, and between 2012 and 2013 he was the Chair of the Coordination Committee of the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council.

[see also: https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/tag/michel-forst/]


Mrs. Margaret Sekaggya (Uganda)

2008 – 2014

Mrs. Margaret Sekaggya (Uganda) was the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders from 2008 to 2014. Before her appointment as Special Rapporteur, Ms. Sekaggya was the Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission and a High Court Judge in the country.

see also: https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/tag/margaret-sekaggya/


Ms. Hina Jilani (Pakistan)

2000 – 2008

Ms. Hina Jilani (Pakistan) was Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders from 2000 – 2008. In 1980, she and her sister founded Pakistan’s first women-only legal practise. She became an Advocate of the Supreme Court shortly after her tenure as Special Rapporteur came to an end.

see also: https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/tag/hina-jilani/

We should be campaigning so the new person appointed is independent, impartial and competent and comes from a background that represents the diversity of our world. 

Are you a suitable candidate? Apply! (1) Complete the online survey (2) Submit the application form in Word format. The deadline for applications is 31 August 2025, noon Geneva time (CEST).

Apply now

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre seeks Executive Director

May 25, 2025

The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (the Resource Centre) seeks a creative, strategic and inspiring leader ready to drive the next generation of progress in strengthening human rights in business. For more than two decades the Resource Centre has sought to amplify the voices of rightsholders and work collaboratively with allies and partners to strengthen corporate practices and support smart regulation to deliver a just economy, address the climate crisis and counter abuse. The ideal candidate will bring energy and insights to the Resource Centre’s vision of transformational change, which is built on community-led action and enhanced by global partnership. The Executive Director will have a strong understanding of international human rights, labour, environmental and climate frameworks as they relate to business–and how to make change happen through those frameworks. They will be able to work effectively with people and organisations at many levels, including grassroots leaders, government representatives, funders, corporate executives and investors.

The Executive Director will lead our global team of 80 across 30 locations, operating with a budget of US$6 million and working in diverse alliances and partnerships worldwide.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership

Management and Organisational Culture

Thought and Field Leadership

Resource Mobilization, Budget Oversight and Finance:

LOCATION AND COMPENSATION

The successful candidate can work in our offices in London, New York, Berlin, or Bogota, or remotely (home-based) anywhere there is strong and continuous internet access. Our team members are based all over the world, and most of our meetings take place during GMT hours to cover Asia and Latin America. The candidate must be committed to working across time zones, be flexible with respect to participating in early and late calls as needed, and able to work at least four hours that overlap with 09:00 – 17:00 Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

The role requires frequent travel to all regions of the world (~35%) in order to connect in-person with Global Team members, partners, local communities, board members and funders, and to represent the Resource Centre at global events.

HOW TO APPLY

This search is being led by consultant Jenna Capeci, in partnership with the board and staff of the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre.

Timeline

Applications are due by Friday, June 13th, 2025. Selected applicants will begin to be contacted for interviews by July 2025. Interviews will be conducted from July through early September. Tentative timing for rounds of interviews are: July 14 – 18, August 13 – 22 and September 3 – 16. Finalists will be asked to create and make a brief presentation.
Anticipated start date is October/November 2025. Applications may be reviewed over time, so please be patient if you do not hear from us immediately. Applicants not invited for interviews will be notified by the end of August.

How to apply

Please apply through this portal. Only applications received in this portal will be considered.

https://reliefweb.int/job/4153128/executive-director

ICJ seeks Legal Adviser (Human rights and the digital space)

February 3, 2025

Although the preferred job location is Bangkok, Thailand (Hybrid), remote work is possible for candidates with the legal right to work in their country, provided the location aligns with the organization’s operational and budgetary considerations.

Start date: March 2025 – Closing date 16 Feb 2025

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) is a worldwide organization of judges and lawyers united in affirming international law and rule of law principles that advance human rights. Its strategic goals for 2021-2025 are: (1) to develop, defend, and strengthen international institutions, instruments, and standards on rule of law and human rights; (2) to improve domestic implementation of, and compliance with, international law and standards; (3) to bolster the effectiveness and independence of judges and lawyers; and (4) to improve access to justice for all and accountability. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, ICJ has a presence in Africa, Latin America, Asia & the Pacific, Europe & Central Asia, and the Middle East.

To lead the implementation of the ICJ’s work on human rights in the digital space at the global and regional levels, we are seeking a full-time Legal Adviser. Key requirements for this role include expertise and working experience related to human rights in the digital space, excellent legal skills and sound political judgment, and proven ability to develop and carry out legal advocacy strategies.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting directly to the Senior Director, Legal and Policy Office, the Legal Adviser is expected to:

• Provide leadership and contribute to the design and implementation of ICJ work related to human rights in the digital space, including the work at the country, regional and global levels;

• Lead and implement work on a global project aimed at developing policy and legal action on protecting human rights in the digital civic space;

• Implement the programme work on human rights in digital space in a way that advances the strategic directions of the ICJ.

REQUIREMENTS

  • University degree in law with advanced studies in international human rights law.
  • Proven experience working in the area of international human rights law.
  • Expertise and working experience related to human rights in the digital space, including in the areas of freedom of expression, right to privacy, non-discrimination and equality, sexual and gender-based violence, and human rights and businesses enterprises.
  • Excellent legal skills and sound political judgment and proven ability to develop and carry out legal advocacy strategies.
  • Advanced expertise in general international human rights law
  • Practical legal and advocacy experience on the implementation of international human rights standards; litigation experience desirable.
  • English native speaker level; knowledge of Spanish, French, and/or Arabic an asset.
  • Demonstrated analytic and writing ability, including substantial report-writing experience;
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills;
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a multi-cultural team;
  • Demonstrated commitment to human rights and the rule of law;
  • Availability to start in March 2025 is required.

How to apply

Interested applicants should provide the materials outlined below to recruitment@icj.org by 16 February 2025, midnight Central European Time (CET). Early applications are encouraged as they will be reviewed on a rolling basis, the ICJ reserves the right to close this vacancy earlier if a sufficient number of quality applications has been received.

  1. A CV (maximum 2 pages);
  2. A cover letter;
  3. Application form filled out.

Please include “Legal Adviser HRDS” in the subject line of the application e-mail.

https://reliefweb.int/job/4129125/legal-adviser-human-rights-and-digital-space

Right Livelihood is looking for a full-time Head of Research

January 17, 2025

Right Livelihood is looking for a full-time Head of Research. The role will be based at one of our offices in Stockholm or Geneva and will lead the selection and research of new Laureates for the Right Livelihood Award.

About Right Livelihood

For over 40 years, Right Livelihood has honoured courageous people solving global problems, creating a community of change-makers committed to peace, justice, and sustainability. By recognising the actions of brave visionaries and building a continuous relationship with these change-makers, Right Livelihood boosts urgent and transformational societal change. With offices in Stockholm and Geneva, Right Livelihood has 20 staff and an annual budget of EUR 4 million. Every year, an international jury chooses the new Laureates: to date, 198 Laureates from 77 countries have been awarded for their impactful contributions. Read more about our approach.

Purpose of the role

You will oversee all aspects of the research and selection of new Laureates for the Right Livelihood Award, taking a leading role in implementing our strategic outlook, as well as developing and managing the research team. In this position, you will be collaborating with colleagues in the entire Right Livelihood team and communicating with nominees for the Award as well as external experts and other contacts. It is expected that you stay on top of global developments related to the work. It is your responsibility to ensure high quality in the research and present accurate, comprehensive, and timely research findings about the candidates. 

The Head of Research will report to the Deputy Director and lead the work of the research team, which currently has two staff members. 

Main responsibilities

  • Lead and develop the annual selection process of Laureates towards the goals defined in the organisational strategy and operational plan.
  • Provide leadership to the research team, manage and guide the research work, and be responsible for the research budget.
  • Coordinate and conduct investigative research about nominees for the Award, both remote and on-site, and lead the writing of the report presented to the jury, including all relevant research findings.
  • Ensure high-quality research to allow the jury to assess nominations from multiple perspectives.
  • In coordination with colleagues, make sure that our work is informed by current trends in global affairs and civil society movements.

Required experience and qualifications

  • Professional experience in leadership roles
  • Professional experience in conducting investigative research in fields such as activism and social transformation 
  • Experience with conducting interviews with a wide range of people, e.g. victims of environmental or human rights violations, both on-site or online
  • Full professional proficiency in English, including experience with research report writing

Terms of employment

This position will be located preferably at our head office in Stockholm or at our Geneva office. Regular international travel is expected in this role. This is a permanent full-time position with a probationary period.

Right Livelihood is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We therefore strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds, identities and abilities to help us create a diverse, balanced and inclusive working environment.

Starting date

By agreement, preferably April 2025.

How to apply

We use a competency-based process for this recruitment. Therefore, you will not be asked to attach a letter of motivation to your application. Instead, we will ask you to complete the online application form accessed through the link below, attach your CV and submit a work sample. Instructions for the work sample are outlined here and in the application form.

go to application form

If you have further questions about the position or the application process, please contact us at jobs@rightlivelihood.org.

The deadline for applications is February 12, 2025 (EOD).

Urgent vacancy at FIDH for Delegate to the United Nations in Geneva

January 15, 2025

Posted on 6 January 2025 – Closing date 15 January 2025

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) is an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) composed of nearly 200 national human rights organisations from more than 115 countries. FIDH is a nonpartisan, non-sectarian, apolitical, and not for profit organisation. Since 1922, FIDH has been defending all human rights – civil, political, economic, social, and cultural – as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

https://www.fidh.org/en

FIDH are now recruiting : A Delegate to the United Nations (F∕M) – Indefinite-term contract based in FIDH Geneva office

The FIDH’s Delegation in Geneva

  • Represents FIDH before Geneva-based international organizations and institutions, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR); in particular, the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) and the UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies;
  • Organizes the participation of FIDH’s member and partner organizations in the work of UN human rights bodies and mechanisms (support and assistance with regard to the submission of “parallel” or “alternative” reports, lobbying and advocacy, communication, etc.): mainly the UN Human Rights Council (including the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism), treaty monitoring bodies, and special procedures;
  • Prepares and implements the interventions of lobbying and advocacy at the Human Rights Council, and defines advocacy strategies;Feeds UN human rights protection bodies and mechanisms, in particular UN special procedures and OHCHR’s sections and branches, based on information from FIDH member and partner organizations and develops the strategic analysis of institutional developments and advocacy opportunities;

Relays and reports on activities and events to FIDH’s International Secretariat based in Paris.

Direct superviser : The representative, Head of the FIDH Delegation to the United Nations in Geneva

Applicants should send their CV and a brief cover letter (in English) by email recrutement@fidh.org quoting reference FIDH DELEGATE in the subject line.

https://reliefweb.int/job/4122938/delegate-united-nations-indefinite-term-contract-based-fidh-geneva-office

Martin Ennals Foundation seeking urgently a Project Coordinator

January 8, 2024

After 4.5 years, Isabel de Sola is getting ready to leave her position as Director of the Martin Ennals Foundation by the end of January. The Project Coordinator is envisioned to take over a sub-set of her responsibilities while collaborating with other members of the staff and Jury organizations.

The Award is approaching its 30th anniversary in 2024 – a moment which calls for a celebration of past achievements, as well as for some reflection on the future. The objective of the MEA 30th Anniversary project is to rally the Award’s friends and partners in Geneva to reinforce the message that protecting and bolstering HRDs is fundamental to the realization of UDHR and the HRDs Declaration.

The Martin Ennals Foundation is hiring a Project Coordinator to deliver on the 30th Anniversary project in 2024 and renew the Award for 2025. The Project Coordinator will be at the center of the Award’s activities, providing an essential link between the Board, Jury members, donors, consultants, and partners to the celebration in 2024-2025. An estimated 60% FTE is envisioned for this role, with peak periods at the nominations and Ceremony stages.

The Project Coordinator’s main responsibilities include:

  • Primary responsibility for the nominations process and coordination of the Jury for the selection of the 2024 Laureate. Maintenance of the Martin Ennals Award nominations database and oversight of the Jury voting process. Preparing and follow-up to Jury meetings – two or three during the year, as necessary.
  • Primary responsibility for the development and execution of the annual Award Ceremony. Liaises with the Ville de Geneve on a concept for the 2024 Ceremony, a new graphic identity, and the agenda of the event. Oversees organizational aspects of the Ceremony in consultation with the Ville de Geneve and event consultants.
  • Collaborates with consultants in the development and execution of an Award communication strategy aimed at raising the visibility of the Laureates and celebrating the MEA’s 30 years’ history.
  • Facilitates conduct of financial and administrative aspects of the Award project, including fundraising and advocacy-related activities together with the heads of departments and the Program Officer.
  • Supports fundraising for 2024-2025 and donor management, in collaboration with the relevant departments.
  • Supports the Program Officer in executing an advocacy strategy for MEA Laureates within Geneva-based advocacy and human rights policy development.
  • Contributes to monitoring and evaluating the 30th anniversary project, and annual narrative reporting for donors.

The Foundation is looking for a versatile and experienced project-manager who is passionate about human rights and rigorous in their planning and management style. The ideal candidate would bring inter alia, the following qualities and skills:

  • A master’s degree or +8 years of work experience in international relations, sustainable development, human rights, security policy, or related fields.
  • Familiarity with the international relations, human rights advocacy, and development cooperation ecosystem of Geneva.
  • Bilingual or professional fluency in both English and French.
  • A track-record in management of complex projects with many moving pieces. Ability to oversee several service providers and consultants simultaneously. Ability to budget and keep-track of financial aspects of the project.
  • Event planning experience.
  • Exposure to fundraising, monitoring and evaluation, or general reporting on projects.

The Project Coordinator will be offered a two-year contract with possibility of renewal.

To apply, please send your CV, a motivation letter, and a 300-word response to the following question to the MEF Board at barbara-lochbihler@gmx.de by February 2nd, 2024 cob:

For the 30th anniversary celebration of the Award, the Martin Ennals Foundation and the City of Geneva will conduct a call-for-tender to identify a provider who can deliver a new graphic design for the Ceremony. How would you go about this task? Describe the steps you would take, a check-list of important items to consider, or your overall approach.”

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview in the month of February.

Amnesty International looking for Senior Regional Campaigner for Eastern Europe and Central Asia region

December 19, 2022

The urgent human rights issues in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region are hugely varied and demand creative campaigns that are well-researched, well-planned and well-managed despite the time pressures that surround them.

JOB PURPOSE: To lead the identification, development, implementation and evaluation of Amnesty International’s campaigning and advocacy strategies on human rights violations in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region, to deliver impact in relation to agreed priorities, utilizing political judgment and analytical, communication and representational skills.

ABOUT YOU

  • Lead the development and implementation of campaign strategies, ensuring campaigns result in measurable change.
  • Advise on, coordinate and review the contribution to relevant campaigns by regional colleagues and other programmes.
  • Coordinate action planning and ensure consistency with campaigning standards and optimal use of resources.
  • Assess opportunities for action, identifying creative and effective campaigning tactics.
  • Provide advice to sections and structures and external partners on the development and implementation of campaign strategies.
  • Responsible for ensuring there is effective communication between relevant IS teams, sections and structures and partners about projects.
  • Draft, review and advise on campaign materials for internal and external use, ensuring products are coherent within the campaign strategy.
  • Communicate AI’s concerns, positions and messages to external and internal audiences.
  • Contribute to planning, execution and evaluation stages of campaign projects; develop and share campaigning best practice.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

  • The ability to adapt to fast-changing political situations in, and related to, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
  • Experience of leading and implementing campaigns at the national & international level and the ability to lead innovation and creative approaches to campaigning.
  • Knowledge of working on, and in, the region and a specialist knowledge in relation to specific countries or other geographical areas in the region.
  • Digitally competent, with experience of digital campaigning and keeping up to date with digital trends and campaigning methodologies.
  • Experience of working with colleagues and partners based around the world.
  • Excellent communications skills in English and Russian in a fluent, clear and concise way. Knowledge of another regional language desirable
  • Experience of leading project teams and the ability to engage and inspire team members.
  • Experience of managing conflicting demands, meeting deadlines and adjusting priorities
  • Ability to undertake research to gather information relevant to the development of campaign strategies.
  • Ability to evaluate campaigns and projects and to report progress against stated objectives; experience of managing budgets and reporting against expenditure.

Amnesty International is committed to creating and sustaining a working environment in which everyone has an equal opportunity to fulfill their potential and we welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community. For further information on our benefits, please visit https://www.amnesty.org/en/careers/benefits/

APPLY HERE

https://careers.amnesty.org/vacancy/senior-regional-campaigner-london-3481/3509/description/

HURIDOCS – who will continue Friedhelm Weinberg’s excellent leadership?

December 12, 2022

After more than 10 years, Friedhelm Weinberg will be leaving HURIDOCS in early 2023. Having worked with him in person on many occasions, I can testify that his leadership has been most impressive, for the NGO itself [see e.g. https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/category/organisations/huridocs/] and the in the area of networking with others, such as the MEA and THF [see e.g. his: https://youtu.be/zDxPbd9St9Y]. In his own announcement, he modestly refers to all his colleagues:

It has been an incredible decade with HURIDOCS, working with amazing colleagues and partners at the intersection of human rights and technology. Together, we have drastically increased support to activists to leverage technology for documentation, litigation and advocacy work. We have pioneered flexible, reliable and robust software tools such as Uwazi, while responsibly sunsetting the past generation of open source software.

None of this would have been possible without the team we have built, and that was collaborating remotely across the globe well before 2020. It’s a committed, humorous and professional bunch, and I have learned so much with every single one of them, as we made things happen and as we hit walls and then picked each other up. I am also grateful to our board that brings together wisdom from leading NGOs, technology companies, the financial sector, but, more importantly, people that were generous with guidance, encouragement and critique.

It has also been a decade of many heartbreaks. From partners whose offices have been raided, that have been declared foreign agents, threatened, attacked. From wars and conflicts breaking out, affecting people we work with. From the difficulties of all we’re doing sometimes not being enough. From worrying how to raise the money to sustain and grow a team that can rise to these challenges.

It is a bittersweet departure, because it has been life-affirming – and yet it is for a perspective that fills me with warmth and excitement. For a while, I will be with our children, with the second one due to arrive in early 2023. 

As I have made the decision to leave HURIDOCS, I also have felt really down and much of the stress built up over a decade manifested physically. Seeking treatment, I have been diagnosed with burnout and depression, and have been recovering with the support from specialists, friends and family. This is neither a badge of honor nor something I want to be shy about, it’s just the reason you haven’t seen much of me recently in professional circles. It’s getting better and I am grateful to have the time and space for healing.

Currently, Nancy Yu is leading HURIDOCS as Interim Executive Director, as Lisa Reinsberg as the Board Chair holds the space and directs the succession process. I am grateful to both of them to step up and step in, as well as the team, our partners and funders for a decade of working together to advance human rights.

As the search for his successor has started, please have a look at the recruitment announcement and consider applying or sharing it with suitable candidates: https://lnkd.in/e7Y7smqT

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7005479545189322752/

Vacancy: Legal Advisor in Business and Human Rights

November 11, 2022

The European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to enforcing civil and human rights worldwide. They initiate, lead and support legal interventions to hold state and non-state actors accountable for human rights abuses.

ECCHR is looking for a candidate with an interdisciplinary profile and at least two years of relevant work experience. A deep understanding of the Business and Human Rights field and the political and legal debates around the German supply chain law is essential.

A deep understanding of Business and Human Rights discussions, especially possible
interventions and legal mechanisms under human rights due diligence and supply chain laws,
in particular the German supply chain law. Excellent written and spoken German and English skills are required, Spanish or French are a plusThe position is ideally to be filled by January 2023 and is limited to May 31st 2024.

Please send your written application in German or English until by email only in one attachment by 15, November 2022 to:

European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, E-Mail: info@ecchr.eu
European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights
Zossener Str. 55-58, Aufgang D
10961 Berlin
http://www.ecchr.eu
E-Mail: info@ecchr.eu

Funders’ Initiative for Civil Society seeks developper

January 18, 2022
Global Dialogue

Global Dialogue seeks a Development and Communications Lead for the Funders’ Initiative for Civil Society (FICS).

FICS’ vision is a world in which people can leverage their collective power to push for political, social and economic transformation without harm, stigma, or fear. Our mission is to defend and expand civic space by making sure progressive movements and their allies have the resources they need to tackle the drivers of closing civic space – the systems, actors, and trends that sit behind growing restrictions on rights of assembly, association and other fundamental freedoms.

A small, friendly and committed team, we have received new investment that is enabling us to scale up and deliver ambitious new grant-making and research programmes. The Development and Communications Lead is a new role and will be a critical member of our core team, helping to drive and sustain this momentum.

They are looking for someone passionate about FICS’ mission and welcome applications from candidates who bring strong expertise in one discipline and a commitment to developing skills in the other, for which there would be support.

Applications are due by 9am on 3 February 2022 and details of how to apply as well as more information about the role can be found in the attached recruitment pack.

Please note this position is being re-advertised and previous applicants need not apply. Application resources Development and Communications Lead JD 0.26 MB

https://www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs/global-dialogue/development-and-communications-lead-/795911