Background

The Civil Peace Service (CPS) is a programme for the prevention of violence and the promotion of peace in crisis and conflict regions. As an expert in the CPS, you will work with partner organisations that are committed to social justice, peace and the realisation of human rights on the ground. The organisations work in a national network of peace organisations and thus join forces for sustainable and effective social transformation.

The Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Juan de Larios (FrayJuan) was founded in 2001 by the now retired Bishop Raúl Vera López in Saltillo and campaigns for human rights and social justice in the state of Coahuila. The work of the non-governmental organisation now focuses in particular on the issue of enforced disappearances. FrayJuan documents cases of disappeared persons, networks affected families and supports them in the search for their relatives and in legal proceedings.

The organisation is based in Saltillo, Coahuila/Mexico.

Job Scope

As an international peace expert, you will work as a member of the “Rights” team, focusing on international advocacy work in the context of “enforced disappearances”. You will be based in the “Litigation and International Strategy” working area and report directly to the coordinator of the working area.

In particular, you will be responsible for the following:

• Monitoring the work of international organisations and bodies on the issue of enforced disappearances
• Development of an international advocacy strategy including guidelines
• Processing and reviewing the cases represented by FrayJuan for submission to United Nations committees
• Analysing and preparing cases for international court hearings
• Capacity building in international advocacy and public relations for the FrayJuan team, in cooperation with collectives of family members of disappeared persons
• Creation of an internal manual for international advocacy on the issue of enforced disappearances in Mexico
• Preparation of reports, materials and handouts on various aspects of the issue of enforced disappearances, for public relations work and for specific target groups

Profile

• You have a university degree (at least a Bachelor’s degree) in law or comparable (e.g. social sciences, political science, international relations), relevant further training and at least two years of relevant professional experience, ideally as a lawyer
• You have sound theoretical and practical knowledge of human rights work with a focus on international law and restorative justice
• You have knowledge of the UN and Inter-American human rights system as well as cases of enforced disappearance and restorative justice
• You enjoy working in a team and are a talented communicator and networker
• You will impress with your diplomatic skills, tact and empathy as well as your high level of gender competence
• You are characterised by conceptual and analytical thinking, organisational talent, excellent time management, initiative and independence
• You are business fluent in written and spoken English and Spanish
• A high level of resilience and flexibility with regard to working hours, as well as a willingness to travel, round off your profile

Citizenship of a Member State of the European Union or Switzerland is required.

Benefits provided by Bread for the World and Dienste in Übersee
Bread for the World provides a framework in which the professionals of Dienste in Übersee share their knowledge and skills with people of another culture.

Supportive cooperation, mutual learning and intercultural exchange are enabled by:

• Individual preparation
• Three year contract with benefits in accordance with the German Development Aid Workers Act
• Coaching