Associate Human Rights Officer

About the role

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Damascus is seeking an Associate Human Rights Officer to support the implementation of international human rights and humanitarian law, and to contribute to the country‑level human rights agenda.

Key responsibilities

• Monitor compliance with international human rights and humanitarian law and follow up on recommendations from UN mechanisms.
• Collect, document and analyse evidence‑based information on civil, cultural, economic, social and political rights, ensuring data is gender‑responsive and interoperable.
• Draft and review reports, briefings, legal and policy analyses, and prepare analytical papers that inform strategies and decision‑making.
• Verify multi‑source information on thematic and country‑specific human rights situations, maintaining methodological quality.
• Provide technical research and substantive support to national counterparts on legislation, policies and security‑sector reforms.
• Assist national and regional partners in strengthening human rights institutions, complaints mechanisms and victim support services.
• Design and deliver capacity‑building activities for state institutions, security forces, NHRIs and civil‑society actors.
• Support integration of human rights standards into development policies, national plans and voluntary reviews.
• Contribute to transitional‑justice processes, including truth‑seeking, prosecutions and reparations.

Required profile

• Strong knowledge of international human rights law, humanitarian law and UN human‑rights mechanisms.
• Experience in collecting, verifying and analysing human‑rights data, with attention to gender and inclusion perspectives.
• Proven ability to produce high‑quality reports, legal analyses and policy briefs.
• Experience supporting national authorities, NGOs or international organisations on human‑rights reforms.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.

Required skills