Case Officer For Alkarama Foundation, Lebanon

Position: Case Officer (Junior Level) for the Mashreq & Gulf regions
Institution: Alkarama Foundation
Country: Lebanon
Deadline: Mar-02-15

Vacancy announcement – Beirut based Case Officer, Arabic-English speaking

Position: Case Officer (Junior Level) for the Mashreq & Gulf regions, temporary 1-year contract, with possibility of renewal for a long-term position.

Location and start date: Beirut, Lebanon; starting 1 April 2015.

Reporting to: Regional Legal Officers for the Mashreq & Gulf regions (normally based in the Geneva office).

Job description:

Based in Alkarama’s regional office in Beirut, the Case Officer will work closely with the Heads of the Beirut and Sana’a offices and the two Regional Legal Officers for the Mashreq & the Gulf to work on individual cases of human rights violations in the Arab world – namely extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, torture and arbitrary detention –. This will include documenting such violations and bringing them to the attention of relevant national and international human rights mechanisms, most importantly the UN Human Rights Mechanisms, by means of individual complaints; maintaining close and confidential relations with victims and sources; contributing to the organisation’s knowledge of the countries in the region; and assisting in the identification of positive and negative trends in the human rights situation in relevant countries.

Major responsibilities

Manage and treat individual cases of human rights violations in the Mashreq & Gulf regions, including:
Documentation of individual cases of human rights violations through analysis of information from a wide variety of sources;
Preparation of individual complaint submissions to the UN human rights mechanisms (e.g. Special Procedures, Treaty Bodies) or other relevant national and international bodies;
Maintaining contact with victims and their families, lawyers or other relevant sources to keep informed of developments of cases;
Monitoring the work of UN bodies and others to ensure appropriate follow-up in form of further submission of information to the UN, media work or other actions in an efficient and timely manner.
Research on country situations and drafting reports to UN human rights mechanisms (e.g. Treaty Bodies, Universal Periodic Review) or other reports.

Requirements

Masters degree in law or social sciences with an international law component, or a Bachelor degree in a similar field with related work experience;
Knowledge of the legal, political and cultural specificities of the Arab world and particularly those of the Mashreq & Gulf countries;
Excellent communication skills also with regard to sensitive topics in interaction with various stakeholders, most importantly victims and their families, lawyers, partner organisations, UN staff, governmental authorities and the media.
Ability to produce professional legal documentation (e.g. individual complaints to Special Procedures) in a well structured, timely, effective and independent manner;
Ability to work in a small, multicultural organisation, respect for diversity;
Highly organised, able to work quickly, effectively and independently under tight deadlines with overseas colleagues;
Fluency in Arabic and English, spoken and written, working proficiency in French welcomed;
Commitment to working for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in a fair and equitable manner, without prejudice or discrimination of any kind.
Benefits and Salary

Salary range consistent with local standards for a junior level position within an NGO.
Deadline for Application:      Monday, 2 March 2015 at 8 a.m. (Geneva time)

To apply, please send your curriculum vitae and a cover letter (in English) in one email, with the subject header "Application: Case Officer – Beirut Office " to jobs@alkarama.org by Monday 2 March 2015 at 8 a.m. (Geneva time). Please note that early applications are encouraged.


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