Regional Human Rights Officer for Europe, Turkey, and Central Asia

The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) is seeking to recruit a committed, energetic, and diligent individual as Regional Human Rights Officer for Europe and Central Asia, with a substantial area of work in Turkey.

This is a contract of unlimited duration for a full-time position.

The post will be located in the OMCT Europe offices in Brussels (Belgium). The position requires regular travel to Geneva and Turkey and the possibility of travel within the region.

ABOUT THE OMCT

Created in 1985, and with 190 member organisations in its SOS-Torture Network, the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) is today the largest coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) fighting against torture, summary executions, forced disappearances and all other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment around the world. The OMCT’s International Secretariat is based in Geneva and its OMCT Europe offices are based in Brussels.

The successful candidate will work as an integrated part of the OMCT’s Regional Programme on Europe and Central Asia under the supervision of the Head of OMCT Europe and the Programme Coordinator.

MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Coordinate & implement advocacy actions on torture and in support of human rights defenders’ protection in Eurasia with a particular focus on Turkey.
• Organise, support, and assist in documentation and advocacy actions, and prepare reports and statements to national, regional, or international human rights and other mechanisms as well as for publication in traditional and social media.
• Implement the OMCT’s anti-torture work, including editing and coordination of shadow and follow-up reporting to the UN Committee against Torture and support civil society organisations in their engagement with the Committee.
• Lead the OMCT’s Turkey engagement with its network and in support of human rights defenders in close coordination with the SOS-Torture Network.
• Conduct advocacy in areas relevant to the OMCT Europe’s mandate, notably towards the UN human rights system, the EU, the Council of Europe and the OSCE.
• Facilitate the collective mobilisation of the OMCT’s SOS-Torture Network in the region.
• Provide support on project implementation and reporting and any other tasks related to the OMCT’s work in Turkey, the region or at the cross-regional level relevant to the OMCT’s strategy and mandate as may be required.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

• University degree in human rights, international relations, law, political science, or related field; a related master’s or post-graduate degree an asset.
• A minimum of three years of relevant work experience in human rights, project implementation and reporting at the regional level in Europe and Central Asia or the international level, preferably with civil society organisations.
• Previous relevant work experience in or on Turkey or advanced knowledge of the situation of human rights in the country would be an essential requirement. Work experience on the broader Europe and Central Asia region would be an asset.

COMPETENCIES REQUIRED

• Excellent knowledge of international human rights law and demonstrated knowledge of the universal and/or regional mechanisms for the protection of human rights.
• Excellent and practical experience in human rights advocacy, project management cycles and development.
• Excellent drafting and editing skills.
• Ability to work under pressure to deadlines and to adapt to multidisciplinary work in the environment of a multicultural team.
• Excellent oral and written language skills in English. Fluency in Turkish and/or Russian would be an asset.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

The OMCT is an equal opportunities employer.

Applications (in English) for this position should be sent (by email only) with the subject “Human Rights Officer Europe, Turkey and Central Asia” to this email address: [email protected] by 15 August 2022.

For consideration, please send a cover letter with your motivation, a CV and the contact details for two professional references.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

For more information about the OMCT and OMCT Europe, please visit our website: www.omct.org.