Human rights officer

Human rights officers investigate and handle human rights violations, as well as develop plans to reduce violations and to ensure compliance to human rights legislation. They investigate complaints by examining information and interviewing victims and perpetrators, and communicate with organisations involved with human rights activities.

The following job titles also refer to human rights officer:

human rights programme officer
human rights lawyer
human rights program officer
human rights project officer

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as human rights officer. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Human rights officer is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to human rights officer.

humanitarian advisor
ombudsman
election observer
political affairs officer
immigration policy officer

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of human rights officer. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of human rights officer with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of human rights officer.

International human rights law: The aspect of international law which deals with the promotion and protection of human rights, the related treaties and agreements between nations, the binding legal effects, and the contributions made to the development and implemenation of human rights law.
Social justice: The development and principles of human rights and social justice and the way they should be applied on a case by case basis.
Scientific research methodology: The theoretical methodology used in scientific research involving doing background research, constructing an hypothesis, testing it, analysing data and concluding the results.

These skills are necessary for the role of human rights officer.

Investigate human rights violations: Investigate cases in which a breach of human rights legislation may have occurred in order to identify the problems and determine an appropriate course of action.
Support victims of human rights violations: Support individuals or groups who have been a target of abuse, discrimination, violence or other acts which violate human rights agreements and regulations in order to protect them and provide them with necessary aid.
Speak different languages: Master foreign languages to be able to communicate in one or more foreign languages.
Establish collaborative relations: Establish a connection between organisations or individuals which may benefit from communicating with one another in order to facilitate an enduring positive collaborative relationship between both parties.
Facilitate official agreement: Facilitate an official agreement between two disputing parties, ensuring that both parties agree on the resolution which has been decided on, as well as writing the necessary documents and ensuring both parties sign it.
Promote human rights implementation: Promote the implementation of programs which stipulate agreements, binding or non-binding, concerning human rights in order to further improve efforts to decrease discrimination, violence, unjust imprisonment or other human rights violations. As well as to increase efforts to improve tolerance and peace, and better treatment of human rights cases.
Conduct research interview: Use professional researching and interviewing methods and techniques to gather relevant data, facts or information, to gain new insights and to fully comprehend the message of the interviewee.
Advise on legal decisions: Advise judges, or other officials in legal decision-making positions, on which decision would be right, compliant with the law and with moral considerations, or most advantageous for the adviser’s client, in a specific case.
Promote social awareness: Promote the understanding of dynamics of social relationships between individuals, groups, and communities. Promote the importance of human rights, and positive social interaction, and the inclusion of social awareness in education.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of human rights officer. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Political science: The systems of government, the methodology concerning the analysis of political activity and behaviour, and the theory and practice of influencing people and acquiring governance.
International law: The binding rules and regulations in the relations between states and nations, and legal systems dealing with countries rather than private citizens.
Court procedures: The regulations which are in place during the investigation of a court case and during a court hearing, and of how these events occur.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of human rights officer. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Support harmed social service users: Take action where there are concerns that individuals are at risk of harm or abuse and support those who make a disclosure.
Apply conflict management: Take ownership of the handling of all complaints and disputes showing empathy and understanding to achieve resolution. To be fully aware of all Social Responsibility protocols and procedures, and to be able to deal with a problem gambling situation in a professional manner with maturity and empathy.
Show responsibility: Accept responsibility and be accountable for professional decisions of yourself or others as part of a job or one’s role.
Maintain relations with local representatives: Maintain good relations with representatives of the local scientific, economic and civil society.
Compile legal documents: Compile and collect legal documents from a specific case in order to aid an investigation or for a court hearing, in a manner compliant with legal regulations and ensuring records are properly maintained.
Liaise with local authorities: Maintain the liaison and exchange of information with regional or local authorities.
Provide testimony in court hearings: Provide testimony in court hearings regarding a variety of social matters and other events.
Maintain relationships with government agencies: Establish and maintain cordial working relationships with peers in different governmental agencies.
Coordinate humanitarian aid missions: Coordinate the deployment of troops and resources to areas where humanitarian aid is required, and the operation in the area itself to ensure that the area is safe, the people have access to medical aid, shelter, and food, and that any danger and risks are removed.
Promote social change: Promote changes in relationships between individuals, families, groups, organisations and communities by taking into consideration and coping with unpredictable changes, at the micro, macro and mezzo level.
Show empathy: Show empathy in order to prevent any kind of symbolic violence and isolation and to guarantee a considerate attention to everyone. It should include a capacity to understand various verbal and non-verbal communication of sentiment and feeling.
Monitor political conflicts: Monitor the possibility and development of political conflicts in specific contexts, such as in or between political parties, governments, or between different countries, as well as identifying its potential impact on government operations, and public safety.
Show intercultural awareness: Show sensibility towards cultural differences by taking actions which facilitate positive interaction between international organisations, between groups or individuals of different cultures, and to promote integration in a community.
Observe confidentiality: Observe the set of rules establishing the nondisclosure of information except to another authorised person.
Advise on conflict management: Advise private or public organisations on monitoring possible conflict risk and development, and on conflict resolution methods specific to the identified conflicts.
Hear witness accounts: Hear witness accounts during a court hearing or during an investigation to assess the significance of the account, its impact on the case under scrutiny or investigation, and to aid in reaching a conclusion.
Provide legal advice: Provide advice to clients in order to ensure that their actions are compliant with the law, as well as most beneficial for their situation and specific case, such as providing information, documentation, or advice on the course of action for a client should they want to take legal action or legal action is taken against them.
Perform political negotiation: Perform debate and argumentative dialogue in a political context, using negotiation techniques specific to political contexts in order to obtain the desired goal, ensure compromise, and maintain cooperative relations.

2619 – Legal professionals not elsewhere classified

 

 

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References

1. Human rights officer – ESCO