Senior Associate - International Justice Program

New York Office

The Lawyers Committee for Human Rights has worked since 1978 to protect and promote the rights to which everyone is entitled under international law. As of January 2004 the new name of the Lawyers Committee will be Human Rights First. We work both internationally and in the United States to champion the rights of refugees and workers, ensure justice for the most serious human rights crimes, promote domestic law and policy that respect human rights, and extend a lifeline to local human rights defenders. Collaboration, innovation, and the search for lasting solutions are the hallmarks of our approach to the toughest human rights problems.

This approach is rooted in the premise that the world's security and stability depend on long-term efforts to advance justice, human dignity, and respect for the rule of law in every part of the world. Our role and reputation in the human rights community is as an organization of advocates who provide substantive research, non-partisan legal expertise, consensus building, and strategic advocacy to effect positive change in respect for human rights.

Human Rights First seeks an Associate/Senior Associate for it’s International Justice Program to be based in its New York office. The Program works for the establishment of strong and effective mechanisms of accountability for the most serious crimes under international law: genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. To that end, we work to lay the foundations, nationally and internationally, in the US and abroad, for a system, including the International Criminal Court and other international and national mechanisms, to hold perpetrators of gross violations accountable.

Under the direction of the International Justice Program Director, the Associate / Senior Associate works on all areas of the Program mandate, carrying out legal research, writing position papers, materials for the web, the media and other purposes, conducting advocacy, fostering relationships with NGOs, including national and international partners, and with governments, developing specific projects, and promoting the goals of the Program.

A primary focus of the position will be the program's work in promoting accountability for the most serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in Africa. This project includes a range of strategies for promoting functioning national accountability mechanisms including: strengthening national legal systems in order that they can both interact with the International Criminal Court (ICC) and prosecute the most serious international crimes domestically, and activating key stakeholders in Africa, the U.S, and elsewhere to advocate for stronger accountability and an end to impunity for human rights crimes. The Associate / Senior Associate is both an active participant in designing and implementing these strategies in Africa, as well as carrying responsibility for communicating about them to a wider international audience.

Responsibilities

• Work with the program director and other members of the team to develop and implement plans for promoting accountability for crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide in strategically selected countries, with a primary focus on Africa;
• Devise and implement results-orientated advocacy strategies to achieve measurable improvement in accountability mechanisms. Tactics to include: direct advocacy with key officials and non-governmental actors, mobilization of targeted sectors of the Lawyers Committee’s/Human Rights First’s constituency, the cultivation of relationships with key journalists, and the preparation of printed and web-based public information and advocacy materials in service of the above;
• Carry out research and analysis into domestic legislation and domestic investigations and trials relating to serious crimes under international law in strategically selected countries and its compatibility with the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and other relevant international standards. Contributing towards the development of generic strategies and materials relating to national implementation of the Rome Statute;
• Develop and maintain working partnerships with local and international partner organizations, legal experts, government officials and other actors, including undertaking foreign travel;
• Contribute to the Program’s wider efforts to carry out evaluation and advocacy relating to justice and accountability options in post-conflict situations;
• Assist the Program Director and other Program staff in relation to other aspects of the International Justice Program’s mandate, including strategies aimed at strengthening the International Criminal Court and other international justice mechanisms.

Qualifications:

• Law degree and/or 3-5 years experience in a relevant field of international law (international criminal law, international humanitarian law or human rights law);
• In-depth knowledge of international criminal law, including the ICC Statute, and international humanitarian law;
• Track record of conducting public advocacy and achieving clearly defined objectives through the use of both legal and non-legal strategies;
• Knowledge or experience in relation to Africa strongly desirable;
• Excellent research abilities;
• Excellent written and oral communications skills, with the demonstrated ability to translate highly technical/specialized material into public communications for lay audiences (including the media);
• The ability to work comfortably in a variety of settings, including legal, governmental, nongovernmental, and, academic, and to achieve sympathetic rapport with both officials and advocates from a variety of backgrounds;
• A willingness to travel;
• Fluency in English;
• Strong French, at least the ability to speak and read;
• Familiarity with criminal legislation and/or practice in criminal law in a national jurisdiction desirable;
• Previous experience in a human rights organization or in the human rights field (UN agencies, International Organizations etc.).

ANNUAL SALARY: Competitive.Excellent benefits.

START DATE: Immediate Hire

SUBMISSIONS:(E-mail Preferred):Respond no later than JANUARY 23, 2004. Please send a cover letter, resume, names and contact details for three (3) references to:

All applicants will be notified of our receipt of application; only selected applicants will be contacted for phone or in-person interviews. We will attempt to confirm the final status for all applicants within one month after the application deadline.

LAWYERS COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
HR - IJ Senior Associate
333 Seventh Avenue, 13th Floor
10001 - 5004 New York, New York

Or by facsimile to: (212) 845-5299
Or by E-mail to: humanresources@lchr.org

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