Associate Programme Officer, Roma and Sinti Issues At Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

Background:

This position is open for secondment only and participating States are kindly reminded that all costs in relation to assignment at OSCE/ODIHR must be borne by their authorities. Candidates should, prior to applying, verify with their respective nominating authority to which extent financial

remuneration and/or benefit packages will be offered. Seconded staff members in the OSCE Secretariat and Institutions are not entitled to a Board and Lodging Allowance payable by the Organization. The OSCE has a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects. It therefore addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, confidence- and security-building measures, human rights, combating human trafficking, national minorities, democratization, policing strategies, counter-terrorism and economic and environmental activities. All 57 participating States enjoy equal status, and decisions are taken by consensus on a politically, but not legally binding basis. The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is the principal institution of the OSCE responsible for the human dimension. ODIHR is active throughout the OSCE area in the fields of election observation, democratic development, human rights, tolerance and non-discrimination, and the rule of law. ODIHR’s assistance projects and other activities are implemented in participating States in accordance with ODIHR’s mandate. ODIHR’s Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues (CPRSI) is the focal unit of the OSCE charged specifically with numerous tasks under the framework of the 2003 Action Plan on Improving the Situation of Roma and Sinti within the OSCE Area. The ODIHR Contact Point addresses issues either directly through its programmes and projects or by promoting policy frameworks and assisting participating States aiming to realize objectives of the Action Plan. It seeks to involve and empower Roma and Sinti themselves in all its activities. The CPRSI plays an active role in promoting action and involvement of the OSCE Institutions and Field Operations in realizing objectives of the Action Plan. It performs the role of catalyst for action and initiatives at international level that aim at better synergies and co-operation as regards realizing common objectives. It acts as a clearing house for all related initiatives, projects, reports or studies while increasingly issuing its own analysis and reports. In this regard, it seeks to strengthen relations and co-operation with the civil society and academic institutions involved in research and studies on Roma and Sinti. The report on the Status of Implementation of the Action Plan (2008) sets up a new threshold as regards the CPRSI reporting on implementation of objectives of the Action Plan and analysing emerging trends and challenges regarding Roma and Sinti in OSCE area.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Adviser on Roma and Sinti Issues, Chief of CPRSI, the Associate Programme Officer, Roma and Sinti Issues, shall perform the following functions and duties:

1. Monitoring and analyzing the human rights situation of Roma and Sinti in the OSCE area, identify emerging challenges and trends and particular situations that have the potential for escalating into tensions or crises situations and propose ODIHR’s response where immediate action is required;
2. Providing advice on all aspects and issues related to the implementation of the Action Plan in the form of reports and analysis, background materials and talking points;
3. Preparing analytical human rights assessment reports on the situation of Roma and Sinti in the OSCE region and monitoring reports in line with the OSCE/ODIHR mandate;
4. Contributing to the development and implementation of projects and activities related to the CPRSI’s yearly programmatic outline, as well as of tasks of ODIHR CPRSI and the overall objectives of the Action Plan;
5. Engaging in the implementation of ODIHR CPRSI activities, projects and programmes, internally with ODIHR Departments, with relevant OSCE institutions and field operations, and externally with the other intergovernmental organizations (UN, CoE, EU), national authorities, international organizations and civil society supporting Roma and Sinti inclusion;
6. Participating and contributing to conferences and meetings hosted by national and local authorities addressing Roma and Sinti Issues and developing and maintaining relations with Roma and Sinti civil society organizations in the OSCE region;
7. Performing other related duties as required.

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, please see https://www.osce.org/odihr

Necessary Qualifications:

• First-level university degree in law, political science, sociology or social science, public administration, international relations of other related field;
• At least four years of progressively responsible professional experience at national and international levels in human rights, public policy, Roma and Sinti or related field (either in governmental, international organization or NGO);
• Proven experience in human and minority rights, in Roma and Sinti issues or other vulnerable groups; familiarity with national, regional and international policies and initiatives addressing Roma and Sinti;
• Demonstrated experience in designing, planning and implementing project activities addressing the situation of Roma and Sinti with a gender mainstreaming and/or diversity management approach;
• Experience in monitoring human rights or relevant field experience on human rights and Roma and Sinti;
• Good understanding of the international environment and functioning of international human rights institutions and bodies and their work on Roma and Sinti;
• Professional fluency in English, with excellent oral and written communication skills; knowledge of Romani, Russian and/or other OSCE language(s) would be an asset;
• Computer literate with practical experience in Microsoft applications.