Human Rights Officer – Regional Office for Southern Africa

About the role

The Human Rights Officer will be based in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Regional Office for Southern Africa in Pretoria. Reporting to the Regional Representative, the incumbent will support the promotion and protection of human rights across the region, focusing on mainstreaming rights in development, designing engagement strategies, and providing thematic expertise.

Key responsibilities

• Monitor implementation of human rights and international humanitarian law and follow up on recommendations from UN mechanisms.
• Collect, document and analyse evidence on civil, cultural, economic, social and political rights, including gender and "leave no one behind" perspectives.
• Draft, review and disseminate reports, briefings and analytical papers to inform policies, programmes and crisis management.
• Provide advisory support to national and regional counterparts to strengthen their human‑rights frameworks.
• Facilitate capacity‑building, training and advocacy initiatives that advance accountability and equality.

Required profile

• Advanced university degree in law, international relations, human rights or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience in human‑rights monitoring, reporting and advocacy.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to synthesize complex data into actionable recommendations.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.

Required skills

• Legal analysis of international human‑rights and humanitarian law.
• Evidence‑based research and data collection.
• Report writing and briefing preparation.
• Stakeholder engagement and advisory support.

What we offer

• Opportunity to work within a leading UN human‑rights institution.
• Engagement with diverse regional partners and UN bodies.
• Professional development in a dynamic, multicultural environment.