The United Nations Special Rapporteur for freedom of opinion and expression, Irene Khan, is looking for a Legal and Policy Advisor to join her team, starting from 1 June 2024.
The key priority areas of the Special Rapporteur are:
- Impact of digital technology on freedom of opinion and expression;
- Media freedom and safety of journalists;
- Relevance of freedom of opinion and expression to democracy and sustainable development;
- Gender justice and freedom of opinion and expression.
Reporting directly to the Special Rapporteur and working closely with other members of the team, including staff from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Legal and Policy Adviser will:
- Provide expert guidance and make substantive contribution to the Special Rapporteur’s reports to the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council;
- Research, analyze and draft advice on international and national laws, jurisprudence and policies relating to freedom of expression and other rights for communications with governments and companies;
- Coordinate with external legal counsel and assist with drafting of amici curiae briefs in cases of interest to the Special Rapporteur;
- Draft background notes, talking points and public statements for the Special Rapporteur;
- Coordinate, assist and participate in stakeholder consultations of the Special Rapporteur, including with legal and policy experts, company representatives and civil society organizations;
- Undertake research and keep the Special Rapporteur informed on legal and policy issues relevant to her mandate;
- Liaise with external communications consultants and ensure the website www.srfreedex.org is kept up to date.
Qualifications
The successful candidate must have:
- At least five to seven years of substantive experience in human rights law and policy, gained in an international organization, human rights or media NGO, law firm, academic or policy institution;
- Good knowledge of digital rights and freedom of expression issues;
- Post-graduate degree, with specialization in public international law, international relations or human rights;
- Excellent drafting skills in English.
The position is on a full-time time basis for one year, but a part-time arrangement or for a shorter period can be considered for the right candidate.
The employment is outside the UN system with competitive INGO terms and conditions. The person will be expected to work remotely, and can be based at a location of her/his choice but should be available for online meetings during Geneva office hours.
Please send your CV with a cover letter (maximum 300 words), explaining your interest and potential contribution to the mandate to rapporteur@srfreedex.org. Applications will be accepted and reviewed until the position is filled. Due to the expected high number of applicants, only candidates short-listed for an interview will be contacted.
For more information on the work of the Special Rapporteur for freedom of opinion and expression, please visit www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/FreedomOpinion and www.srfreedex.org.