Legal advisor At DIGNITY – Danish Institute Against Torture

As legal advisor your core responsibilities will include:

• Working closely with DIGNITY’s partner organisations on the documentation of torture, other human rights violations and international crimes.
• Building capacity and advising DIGNITY and its partners in such documentation, including collection, recording, preservation and storage of relevant information and evidence.
• Assessing the quality and sufficiency of the evidentiary materials collected through DIGNITY and partners’ accountability projects;
• Supporting the development of individual legal cases in national criminal proceedings and before international human rights mechanisms;
• Drafting submissions to national, regional and international human rights and accountability bodies;
• Drafting advocacy reports and undertaking advocacy in relation to United Nations and regional human rights mechanisms.

The position is expected to include up to 45 days of travel abroad per year.

We offer you:

• A job in a dynamic organization with a global outlook and a strong professional focus, where all activities are driven by the desire to make a positive difference for victims of human rights violations.
• An opportunity to become part of an international team of committed and highly skilled colleagues with a focus on setting the best framework for collaboration and joint learning.
• Flexible working hours and an emphasis on a good balance between work and private life.

Skills

We expect you to have a master’s degree in law, preferably with a specialisation in international human rights law (IHRL), international humanitarian law (IHL) or international criminal law (ICL).

We also expect that you have:

• A minimum of 7 years of demonstrated practical legal experience in documenting human rights violations and/or international crimes.
• Demonstrated knowledge of international human rights law, international criminal law and/or international humanitarian law, substantial and procedural.
• Experience in documenting torture, related human rights violations and international crimes, including collecting, recording, preserving and storing relevant information.
• Experience in conducting survivor-centred interviews of victims and witnesses of human rights violations and/or international crimes.
• Experience in capacity building and overseeing the documentation of human rights violations and international crimes.
• Experience in drafting submissions to national, regional and international human rights and accountability bodies.
• Experience in drafting advocacy reports and in undertaking international advocacy vis-à-vis UN human rights bodies and regional organisations.
• Fluency in English with proven writing skills.

Experience from UN accountability mechanisms, international courts or NGOs working on international criminal justice is a distinct asset

It is also important that you have:

• 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 a complex workload and be responsive to evolving demands.
• Cultural and context sensitivity, high ethical standards and diplomatic skills.
• and that you are resourceful, creative, collegial, empathic and respectful.