Research & Program Officer

Organizational Background:

Founded in the year 2000 by former political prisoners living in exile in Thailand, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) is a non-profit, human rights non-governmental organization (NGO), based in Mae Sot on the Thailand/Burma border. AAPP is dedicated to campaigning for the release of all political prisoners in Burma, providing support and aid to current political prisoners, former political prisoners, and their families, and working to secure civil and political rights nationwide. Staffed by former political prisoners, the organization has extensive experience and knowledge of the conditions faced by political prisoners inside prison and after their release, as well as the effects incarceration have on their families and livelihoods. To alleviate some of the physical, mental, and financial trauma caused by imprisonment, AAPP runs a range of assistance programs inside Burma, including mental health counseling and education as well as vocational opportunities for former political prisoners and their families.

As well as assisting political prisoners, AAPP documents and reports on human rights abuses carried out by the Government against political prisoners and political activists. As such, AAPP is widely regarded as a reliable and credible source of information on political prisoner issues in Burma. In recent years, AAPP has expanded its expertise into human rights and transitional justice training, providing services to lawmakers, former political prisoners, civil society groups, and military personnel. Through advocacy and lobbying efforts, AAPP continually stresses the importance of releasing all political prisoners in Burma as part of the transition towards democracy and national reconciliation.

Responsibilities:

Reporting to AAPP’s senior management, the successful candidate will assist on several of AAPP’s projects, by:

• Carrying out extensive human rights and legal research;
• Drafting detailed human rights reports and legal analyses;
• Drafting submissions to international human rights monitoring mechanisms;
• Drafting and finalizing English language outputs for AAPP’s projects (reports, briefing notes, press releases, leaflets, statements, official correspondence etc.);
• Social media management / communications;
• Writing funding proposals and subsequent donor reporting;
• Proofreading and editing;
• International intern recruitment and management.

Requirements:

Essential:

• At least two years’ experience working in a field related to human rights, international law, or development,
• A Masters’ degree (or equivalent) in international relations, political science, social science, human rights, development, law, or another related field. Relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of a Masters’ degree,
• Fluency (or native level equivalent) in written and spoken English,
• Strong knowledge of international human rights mechanisms,
• Proven writing and research skills,
• Proven social media experience,
• Experience working in a multi-cultural environment,
• Excellent communication skills,
• Excellent organizational skills,
• Strong work ethic and positive attitude,
• Passion for human rights and social justice, and
• Be highly self-motivated and able to work with limited supervision in a fast-paced environment, often to tight deadlines.

Desirable:

• A good understanding of the human rights situation and / or experience working on Burma issues is highly desirable,
• Previous experience working on civil and political rights preferred.

Salary to be discussed with shortlisted candidates. Visas and all related visa expenses are reimbursed.