Derechos: Human Rights Listings

This position will fill a vacancy in our team of two international advocacy officers at DCI/PS who are under the direction of the Documentation and International Advocacy Unit Manager. The two international advocacy officers work collaboratively on the unit’s work.

The International Advocacy Officer (United Nations advocacy) will be responsible for the maintenance of the units daily international advocacy work in the English language on violations of the rights of Palestinian children related to the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Additionally, the International Advocacy Officer will build the capacity of DCI/PS to carry out advocacy at the UN and EU levels.

The ideal candidate will have a Master’s Degree in human rights or international relations or a BA/JD in law with an LLM in human rights, humanitarian or EU law or an MA in a related field of the social sciences and will be fluent in written and spoken English.

S/he will have the following primary responsibilities:

• To monitor UN treaty bodies and special procedures mechanisms in order to identify advocacy opportunities and drive initiatives related to these opportunities
• To network with UN mandate holders and their staff in order create working relationships between DCI/PS and mandate holders
• To coordinate with the other members of the DIA unit to identify individual violations of child’s rights, and systematic patterns of violations as a result of the Israeli occupation and identify the appropriate advocacy format for disseminating information concerning these violations (ie. press release, letter to UN body or country representative office etc…)
• To represent DCI/PS at UN and other international bodies when appropriate
• To brief solidarity groups on the situation of Palestinian child rights
• To keep abreast of advocacy initiatives taken by international and other local human rights organizations, both to inform DCI/PS work, and to identify opportunities for collaboration
• To monitor national and international media on a daily basis for relevant coverage related to Palestine
• To help define the department’s advocacy strategy for the EU
• To collaborate with the unit in order to increase proactive targeting of media outlets
• To respond to inquiries from journalists
• To upload information on the DCI/PS’ English language website (not technical work, but updating content)
• To participate in DCI/PS’ yearly strategic planning processes

Qualifications:
• Master’s Degree in human rights or international affairs or a related field of the social sciences, or alternatively, a BA/JD in law with an LLM in human rights, humanitarian or EU law.
• Fluent written and spoken English
• Minimum two years of related advocacy work experience
• Knowledge of child rights and state obligations to uphold child rights during armed conflict/occupation
• Knowledge of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
• Ability to travel freely between the Middle East and Europe
• Arabic language ability is an asset

The successful candidate will be passionate about child rights. S/he will be highly motivated and able to work long hours under pressure if required. S/he should be patient and willing to persevere in the face of ongoing violations of child rights. S/he will also be comfortable working in a multi-cultural environment.

Salary:
USD 1,500 (including taxes)

Closing Date: 3 November 2006

Background on Defence for Children International – Palestine Section
Defence for Children International/Palestine Section (DCI/PS), established in 1992, is affiliated with the Geneva-based Defence for Children International, a non-governmental organization established in 1979, with special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Though affiliated with an international network, DCI/PS is an independent, Palestinian non-governmental organization, which develops its own programmatic priorities and methods of work according to the status of Palestinian children’s rights.
DCI/PS is dedicated to promoting and protecting the rights of Palestinian children in the West Bank and Gaza Strip – as articulated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child as well as other international human rights instruments – and to facilitating the creation of an environment which is aware of and respects children’s rights.
DCI/PS has three units: the Documentation and International Advocacy Unit, the Legal Unit and the Training and Social Mobilization Unit. The Documentation and International Advocacy Unit is charged with documenting violations of Palestinian children’s rights (primarily violations of the right to life and liberty) by Israel and lobbying on various levels in the international arena.
For more information, please see our website: http://www.dci-pal.org

Additional Qualifications:

How to Apply:
How to Apply:

Please send a completed application in English, including all documents identified below
to:
e-mail: IAOfficer@dci-pal.org
Fax: 972.2.2407018

Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered.

1) Cover letter stating interest in position and what you can bring to DCI/PS
2) CV
3) List of contact details for two references including e-mail addresses (one academic and one professional or two professional)
4) A writing sample in English of no more than 5 pages (single spaced). Please note that it is acceptable to submit a portion of a document which is larger than 5 pages in total.

Job posted on: October 24, 2006

Job Category:
Activism & Organizing
Type:
Full time
Salary:
$1,500
Education:
Master (MA, MSW, etc.)
Languages:
English
Last day to apply:
November 03, 2006
Posted by:
Defence For Children International/Palestine Section
Area of Focus:
Children and Youth, Human Rights and Civil Liberties, Legal Assistance
Location:
Ramallah, Palestine,
Palestinian Authority