Operational Context for Position 10001165 - Senior Legal Officer

Effective Date: 26-01-2022

Position Specific Information

Job Title: Senior Legal Officer Job Specialization:

Grade: P4 Location: Geneva, Switzerland Family/Non-Family: Family
Hardship Level: H (no
Job Code: 000438 Location Type: Headquarters hardship) High Risk: ☐
Alternative Place of Assignment (if applicable): Alternative Location:
Department: DIP Policy and Law Service Position Number: 10001165 Position Type: Standard

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Job Specific Occupational Safety and Health Considerations (if applicable):

Nature of the Position

The incumbent is responsible for leading the Human Rights Liaison Unit (¿HRLU¿) in the Protection Policy and Legal Advice (PPLA) Section in the
Division of International Protection (Service 1 - Policy & Law). The Unit promotes the effective use of international human rights law and UN human
rights mechanisms to strengthen the international protection of refugees and respect for the rights of all persons of concern (POC) to UNHCR.
The post thus involves leading a small team which aims to: (1) contribute to human rights standards setting as relevant, and advocate for the
inclusion of protection issues and the rights of POC in legal and policy documents and other outputs of the Human Rights Council, the Human
Rights Treaty Monitoring Bodies and the UN Special Procedures; (2) contribute to the mainstreaming of human rights into all areas of UNHCR¿s
work; and (3) liaise between UNHCR and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to strengthen human rights approaches
and ensure continuous cooperation.
Specific activities include providing advice and training to UNHCR staff and partners on human rights standards, instruments and mechanisms, and
keeping colleagues (including management) informed of relevant developments and opportunities in the human rights sphere. The head of HRLU
also represents UNHCR in headquarter-level inter-agency discussions/activities concerning human rights, liaises at technical level with the OHCHR
and coordinates UNHCR¿s inputs into UN human rights processes. The Unit furthermore facilitates the contributions of UNHCR country offices to
the various UN human rights mechanisms, reports back to them and other relevant staff on the discussions and outcomes of these mechanisms,
and supports country offices in their efforts to apply the outcomes of the UN human rights mechanisms in their protection work.
The work further involves substantive coordination tasks, including leadership of and contributions to task teams and networks within UNHCR and
with outside partners. It also involves the preparation of strategy documents, legal and policy analysis, advice, research papers, statements and
speeches linked to human rights. It requires a high level of organizational skill, including the ability to work independently and productively with
multiple stakeholders in a fast-paced environment. It further demands the ability to work productively in a team environment and independently, and
to handle pressing and sensitive tasks.

Living and Working Conditions

Operation Scope
Operation Budget: Operation Workforce:

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Position Scope

Workforce to Supervise:

☐ Refugees ☐ Internally Displaced Persons ☐ Returned Refugees

Type of Persons of Concern: ☐ Asylum Seekers ☐ Stateless ☐ Returned IDP's

☐ Others of Concern ☐ N/A

Number of Persons of Concern:

Additional Languages

French
Desirable

Language Comments:

Additional Relevant Skills

Additional Relevant Certificates

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