Would you like to work in a unique international human rights, health and development organization? And are you a talented and passionate lawyer with experience in investigations and international criminal justice, including documentation of international crimes and human rights violations for accountability purposes?
Then DIGNITY – Danish Institute Against Torture can offer you a position as Legal Advisor, playing a key role in the field of investigation and documentation of torture and other international crimes for accountability purposes.
DIGNITY was founded in 1982 as one of the world’s first specialized torture rehabilitation centers. Today, we are a leading global player in research-based torture prevention and rehabilitation of trauma survivors. We work both politically, human rights- and development-oriented for a world free of torture. In recent years, DIGNITY has expanded its engagement from the human rights field to that of international justice and accountability, and the Legal Advisor will play a key role in this expansion.
DIGNITY is headquartered in Copenhagen and currently employs around 140 staff globally. We have active partnerships with more than 30 local and international NGOs and research institutions around the world.
DIGNITY’s Legal Department has six international lawyers and two law students. Our engagements span from documentation and investigation of torture, pursuing justice and redress, preventive monitoring of places of detention, and national and international advocacy in partnership with human rights organization in the global south, to legal reform and cooperation with national criminal justice institutions. In achieving DIGNITY’s aims, we work across professional disciplines and cultures with colleagues in Denmark, our country offices in Jordan and Tunisia, and our partner organizations worldwide.
The position
The Legal Advisor plays a leading role in conceptualising, developing and implementing DIGNITY’s international strategies, projects and methodologies in the fields of international justice and accountability, specifically with respect to investigation, documentation and analysis of international crimes and human rights violations, including torture and inhuman treatment and sexual and gender-based crimes.
Core responsibilities will include: building capacity and advising DIGNITY and its civil society partners in investigating and documenting international crimes, including collecting, recording, preserving and storing relevant information; assessing the quality and sufficiency of the evidentiary materials collected through DIGNITY and partners’ accountability projects; and assisting in drafting submissions to national, regional and international courts and other relevant mandates on international crimes.
This is a newly established and permanent position. DIGNITY is currently implementing international accountability projects in Belarus and Ukraine, which will comprise the main areas of focus for the position-holder in the near-term, with other geographies and locales covered in the long-term.
The Legal Advisor refers to our Legal Director.
We offer you:
- A chance to contribute to investigating and documenting torture and other international crimes and human rights violations for accountability purposes.
- A dynamic working environment with highly skilled and motivated colleagues.
- A position with considerable responsibility and room for shaping your portfolio.
- A work-life balance and excellent possibilities for professional growth.
Required skills
We expect you to have a master’s degree in law, preferably with a specialisation in international criminal law (ICL), and/or international human rights law (IHRL).
We also expect you to have:
- A minimum of 7 years of demonstrated practical legal experience with international courts, tribunals or other accountability mechanisms, including at least 3 years’ experience conducting investigations of international atrocity crimes and/or prosecutions of international atrocity crimes.
- Demonstrated knowledge of ICL, substantial and procedural, and preferably also knowledge of IHRL.
- Experience in training non-experts on investigation and documentation of international crimes is desirable.
- Fluency in English with proven writing skills.
- Competency in written and oral Ukrainian and/or Russian will be considered a distinctive asset. Competency in written and oral French and/or Arabic will be considered an asset.
Applicants must be willing to travel up to 40-50 days annually.
We also expect the following personal attributes:
- Excellent analytical and strategic thinking and with strong organisational and inter-personal skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team in an inter-disciplinary environment and across different cultures.
- Excellent oral communication and writing skills, and ability to communicate effectively with different target audiences.
- Ability to work across a broad portfolio, manage complex workload and be responsive to evolving demands.
- Cultural and context sensitivity, high ethical standards and diplomatic skills.
- Resourceful, creative, collegial, empathic and respectful.
Terms of employment
The position is located in DIGNITY’s Legal Department with reference to the Director of the department.
Your place of employment will be at Bryggervangen 55, 2100 Copenhagen. If you live abroad, you are expected to take up residence in Denmark.
Your working hours are 37 hours per week.
The employment is based on education and qualifications, and on the collective agreement for academics in the state.
Expected start date January 1, 2023 or as soon as possible thereafter.
Further information
Further information regarding the positions can be obtained by contacting our Legal Director, Therese Rytter, on tel. +45 60 10 88 10, or by mail: tr@dignity.dk.
Application with CV, diploma and references should be sent via the link and must be received by DIGNITY no later than 30 November 2022. Please note that since it is only possible to upload 2 files in the system, the diploma must be collected in the same document as either the CV or the application.
We expect to hold interviews on December 7, 2022 The interviews will be held online (Teams) in English for applicants abroad. For applicants in Denmark the interviews will be held at Bryggervangen. We currently also expect to hold a second interview round comprising a small task to be prepared prior to the interview. This final date is not yet planned.
DIGNITY is a self-governing human rights, health and development organization. DIGNITY is engaged in rehabilitation of torture and trauma survivors, prevention and combating of torture, research in the aforementioned areas as well as national and international advocacy. We are engaged in twenty developing countries worldwide through partnerships with civil society organisations and state institutions. DIGNITY staff are members of the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) and the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT). You can read more about our organization and work at www.dignity.dk. DIGNITY regards diversity as a strength and therefore encourages everyone qualified to apply for the position regardless of ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or age.
How to apply
Please apply via this link: