European Group of National Human Rights Institutions

European Group of National Human Rights Institutions

Job Title: Director of the Permanent Secretariat of the European Group of National Human Rights Institutions

Location: Brussels, Belgium

Salary: USD $78,100 ($6,500 per month), equivalent paid in € Euro

Duration:Initially 12 months with the possibility of renewal or permanence based on funding and performance.

The European Group of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) is seeking a Director to lead in the establishment of it’s permanent Secretariat in Brussels. The Secretariatwill coordinate 40 human rights institutions across wider Europeand engage with the International Coordinating Committee of NHRIs, the UN,the Council of Europe, theEU bodies, the OSCE and other regional partners.

The Director of the Secretariat will support and strengthen the capability of the European Group, enhance its role within the European human rights infrastructure and promote the establishment and strengthening of NHRIs in Europe.

For background information on the European Group and a detailed job description see below.

To apply please fill out the application form and return by email or post by 5pm Central European Time on24September2012:

Email:

Post:Scottish Human Rights Commission

FAO Chair of the European Group of NHRIs

4 Melville Street

Edinburgh, EH3 7NS

Scotland

You can find copies of the application form at

About the

European Group of National Human Rights Institutions

The European Group of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) was established in 2003 to coordinate NHRIs from across Europe. It is made up of 40 human rights institutions from across wider Europe[1] and is one of four regional groups which bring together human rights bodies from all over the world, the others being Africa, Asia/Pacific and the Americas. On a global level NHRIs are organised and accredited by the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (ICC).

The chair of the European Group is currently the Scottish Human Rights Commission.[2] The Chair is assisted by three other members of the European Coordinating Committee (ECC), presently consisting of Denmark, France and Luxembourg. The Group Chair coordinates and drives the work of the Group and liaises with regional and international bodies including the OHCHR, Council of Europe, OSCE-ODIHR and the EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA). The Chair also provides technical assistance in the establishment of new NHRIs in conjunction with the OHCHR as well as in capacity building for existing institutions through bodies such as EU Just, OSCE and UNDP. One member of the Group, currently France, represents the Group in the Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) of the ICC.

The European Group is the largest of the 4 regional Groups of the ICC. It also contains the most diverse range of NHRI ‘types’ including; human rights commissions, Ombuds-institutions, institutes and consultative commissions. In addition, the European Group operates within the most advanced regional human rights structure globally, which requires that NHRIs engage with a broad range of bodies including the OSCE, Council of Europe and EU.

The European Group of NHRIs is currently establishing a Secretariat to help coordinate its work such as already exists in other parts of the world (see: Asia-Pacific Forum

JOB DESCRIPTION

This job description describes the practical purpose and main elements of the job. It is a guide to the nature and main duties of the job as they exist currently, but is not intended as a wholly comprehensive or permanent schedule.

1. JOB DETAILS
Job Title: Director of the Permanent Secretariat of the European Group of NHRIs
Reports to: Chair of the European Group of NHRIs
Initial critical support from: Coordinator of the European Group of NHRIs
Location: Brussels, Belgium(applicants must have the right to work in Belgium)
Salary: USD$78,100 ($6,500 per month)
Duration: Initially 12 months with the possibility of renewal or permanence based on funding and performance.
2. OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE JOB
To establish and run a permanent Secretariat for the European Group of National Human Rights Institutions. The secretariat for the European Group will support and strengthen the capability of the European Group and enhance its role within the European human rights infrastructure and promote the establishment and strengthening of NHRIs in Europe.

1. JOB DIMENSIONS

Structure:

4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES
At the direction of the Chair of the European Group the Director will have the following responsibilities and duties.
Foundational responsibilities

1. Develop, in close liaison with the Chair of the European Group, a legal structure for the secretariat.

1. Develop, in close liaison with the Chair of the European Group, a strategic development and services strategy for the European Group.

1. Develop core procedures for the Secretariat.

1. Develop a funding strategy for the Secretariat.

1. Create effective and efficient systems for sharing information and expertise and strengthening co-ordination among the Group (including establishing and managing the Group website);

Ongoing duties
Resource Management and Secretariat Services

1. Provide full secretariat support for the work of the European Group Chair.

1. Secure and manage funding for ongoing development of the Secretariat.

1. To provide a full secretariat function for the meetings of the European Group and its working groups

1. Provide support for the member representing the Group within the Sub-Committee on Accreditation and attend such meetings as an observer.

Relationship Management and Communications

1. Ensure effective communication between the International Coordinating Committee of NHRIs and members of the European Group.

1. Ensure consistent, long-term co-operation and engagement between the European Group and regional and international partners, in particular the EU bodies, the Council of Europe, OSCE and the UN including ensuring ‘institutional memory’, supporting common responses from European NHRIs and becoming a focal point for contact by regional partners.

1. At the direction of the Chair, represent the European Group at international and regional meetings and conferences.

Strategic Advice and Development

1. Coordinate common policy making initiatives and common statements on issues of regional significance, including strategic advice on policy and on strategic interventions at the EU and Council of Europe levels as well as at the international level.

1. Support joint litigation initiatives, in particular providing support when the Group acts as amicus curiae before the European Court of Human Rights and the European Court of Justice in cases that have regional significance.

1. Coordinate human rights impact assessment of EU legislation.

1. Support the establishment and accreditation of new NHRIs in Europe and assist existing NHRIs in the re-accreditation processes, including providing technical assistance, and organising peer support from Group members.

1. Provide technical assistance to OHCHR/UNDP/EU and others to undertake capacity building and to support existing NHRIs in carrying out their roles and functions under the Paris Principles including assisting in gaining ‘A’ accreditation status.

These key tasks are not intended to be exhaustive, but they highlight a number of major tasks that the post-holder may be reasonably expected to undertake.
Person Specification
5. QUALIFICATIONS – ESSENTIAL/DESIRABLE
Essential

1. Degree in international affairs, politics, law or an associated field with a human rights focus

Desirable

1. Post Graduate degree in international affairs, politics, law or an associated field with a human rights focus

1. Management qualification

6. EXPERIENCE - ESSENTIAL/DESIRABLE
Essential

1. Significant experience of working for or with NHRIs

1. Experience of working within the International and Regional Human Rights framework

1. Experience in Project Management and strategic leadership including securing and managing funding

1. Demonstrable in depth and up to date knowledge and understanding of the international and regional human rights framework

1. Experience of public speaking

1. Experience in delivering training/capacity building

Desirable

1. Experience in working in different countries across Europe or with different organisations based in different countries across Europe.

1. Experience in working in an international or regional human rights body

7. PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS/COMPETENCIES - ESSENTIAL/DESIRABLE
Essential

1. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English

1. Willingness and ability to travel regularly

1. Political and international awareness

1. Confidential and sensitive approach

1. Well developed organisational skills

1. Able to work independently but also within a small team

1. Attention to detail

1. Flexible approach

Desirable

1. A working knowledge of one of the other official languages of the ICC – French, Spanish or Arabic

1. Knowledge of other languages spoken within the European Group

1. Excellent IT skills

8. ADDITIONAL COMMENT

• This post will initially be for a fixed term of 12 months with the intention to extend the post and make it permanent based when future funding is secured.
• The post reports to the Chair of the European Group of NHRIs which is a post that is elected by the Group every two years.

1

[1]NHRIs fully in compliance with the Paris Principles exist in:

Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Denmark, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom (Equality and Human Rights Commission, Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, Scottish Human Rights Commission);

NHRIs partly in compliance with the Paris Principles exist in:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria (Commission for Protection Against Discrimination of the Republic of Bulgaria; The Ombudsman of the Republic of Bulgaria), Hungary, Macedonia, Moldova, Netherlands, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden;

NHRIs not in compliance with the Paris Principles exist in:

Romania, Switzerland (Federal Commission for Women's Issues, Federal Commission against Racism);

NHRIs which have not yet sought accreditation of compliance with the Paris Principles exist in:

Finland, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania.