The Counsel will a part of HRW’s International Justice (“IJ”) Program and be involved in the organization’s efforts to limit impunity associated with genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. The IJ Program advises and operationalizes HRW’s activities on a range of issues relating to accountability at international criminal fora, devises strategies to obtain justice, and produces written materials to implement those strategies.
The Counsel will contribute to the coordination of HRW’s work to develop international legal institutions and feed into the organization’s advocacy work in Europe. S/he will work directly with and report to the Director of the IJ Program. The work of the Counsel will primarily focus on issues related to the International Criminal Court (“ICC”) and its current country situations. It is anticipated that the Counsel will be required to travel frequently to countries in which the ICC is operating. The Counsel will assist with advocacy at the ICC in The Hague. In addition, the Counsel will conduct legal research and write policy papers and reports.
Additional Qualifications:
The successful candidate will be a lawyer with a deep commitment to human rights and a minimum of five years of practical experience relevant to complex projects involving international human rights, humanitarian, and criminal law. Exceptionally strong research, analytical, and writing skills in English are required. Applicants must have a track record of first-rate written products. Fluency in English and French, both spoken and written, is required. Applicants must be able to work successfully under pressure, juggle multiple tasks, and work collegially in a diverse professional environment, as well as travel internationally. Field experience is required; experience in Uganda, Sudan or the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a plus. International tribunal background is desirable.
How to Apply:
PLEASE APPLY IMMEDIATELY (no calls or email inquiries, please) by emailing together a letter of interest, resume, references, and a brief writing sample (unedited by others) no later than December 1, 2006 to gaertnh@hrw.org. Please use “IJ Counsel 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 (IJ Counsel)
350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor
New York, NY 10118-3299, USA
Fax: (212) 736-1300