F/T Position Available:
Women’s Rights Researcher on the Americas
Women’s Rights Division
(New York Office or Washington, D.C. Office)
Deadline for applications: March 31, 2006
Since its founding in 1978, Human Rights Watch has become the largest U.S.-based international human rights monitoring and advocacy organization, known for its in-depth investigations, its incisive and timely reporting, its innovative and high-profile advocacy campaigns, and its success in changing the human rights-related policies of the U.S., the E.U., and other influential governments and international institutions.
The Women’s Rights Division (WRD) of Human Rights Watch was established in 1990 to monitor state-sponsored or state-tolerated violence and sex discrimination against women in all regions of the world. Much of its work consists of gathering detailed information on abuses against women and publishing reports that are as reliable, comprehensive and timely as possible, so as to effect change in repressive practices and improve respect for women’s rights throughout the world. The work of the WRD seeks to expand the scope of human rights work to address abuses against women that traditionally have been overlooked or misunderstood, as well as achieve greater accountability for violations of women’s human rights.
Description: The Researcher will work within the Women’s Rights Division of Human Rights Watch to improve awareness and accountability for human rights violations against women in Latin America and the Caribbean by, among other things, conducting fact-finding missions; writing and publicizing reports, briefing papers, letters, press releases, op-eds, and submissions to international bodies based on the findings; developing and implementing local, regional, and international strategies to change abusive laws, policies, and practices; presenting human rights concerns to government officials, inter-governmental agencies, and the press; and working closely with colleagues in the region to ensure that the work of HRW complements and enhances their own work. The Researcher’s responsibilities will also include monitoring legislative and/or policy developments related to women's rights in the Americas and liaising with human rights and women's organizations in the countries she or he will cover and in the U.S. S/he will be based preferably in our New York office, although a base in Washington, D.C., may be considered.
Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have at least three to five years of directly related post-graduate experience working on women’s human rights in Latin America and the Caribbean, both at a national and a regional level. Experience living in the region is required. An advanced (graduate) degree in international relations, journalism, law, or social sciences is required. S/he must have strong field research and documentation skills; the ability to produce excellent written material under tight deadlines; excellent oral and written communication skills; experience in international human rights law; strong advocacy abilities, including experience with face-to-face advocacy with high-level policymakers; and fluency in Spanish and English (and preferably also Portuguese). She or he should also be able to work under pressure and juggle multiple tasks, be collegial and team-oriented yet able to work independently, and be able to travel overseas for three or more weeks at a time, several times a year.
Salary and Benefits: Human Rights Watch seeks exceptional candidates and offers competitive compensation and generous employer-paid benefits. HRW will pay reasonable relocation expenses and will assist employees in obtaining necessary U.S. work authorization; non-US citizens are encouraged to apply.
PLEASE APPLY IMMEDIATELY (no calls or email inquiries, please) by emailing a letter of interest describing your experience, resume, names or letters of reference, and a brief writing sample (unedited by others) no later than March 31, 2006 to wrd@hrw.org. Please use “WRD Americas Researcher Application” as the subject of your email. Only complete applications will be reviewed. It is preferred that all materials be submitted via email. If emailing is not possible, send materials (please do not split a submission between email and regular post) to:
Human Rights Watch
Attn: Search Committee (WRD Americas Researcher)
350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor
New York, NY 10018
U.S.A.
Human Rights Watch is an equal opportunity employer.