DUTY STATION: Sarajevo
GRADE: 8
CONTRACT TYPE: National / International
PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF POSITION:
Under the overall direction of the Head of the Department for Legal Affairs, the Legal Officer for Human Rights is responsible for working as part of a small team of lawyers specializing in different areas of public law who together form the Public Law Unit within the Department for Legal Affairs of the Office of the High Representative.
The Legal Officer for Human Rights primarily ensures the co-ordination in the work of the Public Law Unit on human rights issues arising from the application of the European Convention on Human Rights and other relevant European instruments in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Due to the fact that the Department of Legal Affairs functions as a legal service for all other departments of the OHR and is the main source of authoritative legal advice to the High Representative on legal issues which includes problems of a multi-disciplinary nature which may range over a number of areas, the Legal Officer for Human Rights will be expected to work periodically as part of a larger Department for Legal Affairs team with lawyers who formally comprise the civil and commercial, criminal or environmental units contained within the Department. Also the Legal Officer for Human Rights is expected to work in consultation with and in liaison with other departments and regional offices of the Office of the High Representative as required and appropriate.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Identify, examine, research, evaluate and report to the Head of the Department for Legal Affairs on legal, and in particular on human rights, aspects of problems affecting the mandate of the High Representative in regard to the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to assist the Head of the Department for Legal Affairs in performing his task of providing authoritative legal advice to the High Representative on such issues.
· Maintain consultation and liaison with other departments as appropriate.
· Take part as appropriate in all aspects of the Decision making process of the Office of the High Representative including, as required, drafting, advising, vetting and editing of the same. Such Decisions may include those in relation to removal and suspension within the context of the General Framework Agreement and its later interpretation in Peace Implementation Council meeting conclusions.
· Carry out research and drafting in regard to Legal Opinions issued by the Department for Legal Affairs of the Office of the High Representative, in particular those concerning human rights issues.
· Carry out research in regard of the compatibility of BiH legislation with European Convention on Human Rights and other human rights instruments
· Carry out research and drafting in regard to comments on behalf of the Office of the High Representative prepared for court hearings including hearings of the of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina concerning cases in which the Office of the High Representative has an interest and desires to make such comments or become involved as amicus or otherwise at such hearings.
· Maintain contact with appropriate officials of State and Entity including those forming part of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government with regard to matters within the responsibility of the Department for Legal Affairs.
· Co-ordinate with international organizations including the Council of Europe on the matters within the responsibility of the Department for Legal Affairs, in particular on human rights matters.
PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS / QUALIFICATIONS:
· Law Degree
· 5 years of relevant professional experience required;
· Practical knowledge of the European Convention on Human Rights and other relevant international instruments;
· Drafting ability;
· Very good written and spoken English, including knowledge of legal terminology;
· Mature judgment.
Any personnel with the above qualifications should provide (in English) a CV with a one-page cover letter and references to the following: