Legal Advisor, Human Rights at WHO, Washington, D.C., United States

Deadline: 3 July 2022

World Health Organization (WHO) is currently seeking applications from the eligible applicants for the post of Legal Advisor, Human Rights in Washington, D.C., United States.

The primary role of WHO is to direct and coordinate international health within the United Nations system.

Key Job Responsibilities

The Legal Advisor, Human Rights  will perform the following functions:

• Advise Member States, in collaboration with Country Offices, on all international human rights issues and action strategies to promote the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health (“Right to Health”)  and other related human rights  in  Member  States, and  on  the  formulation/review  of national  health-related  laws, policies, programs and  practices consistent with  regional and international  human  rights laws  and standards, PAHO Resolutions, especially Resolution on Human Rights and Health (CD50.R8), and Resolution on Health-Related Law (CD54.R9);
• Plan, design, and participate in training activities in Member States and within the Organization on international and human rights norms  and  standards that protect the Right to Health and other related human  rights, especially  in  areas such as communicable diseases, noncommunicable diseases, risk factors, determinants of health, cross-cutting themes (Gender, Ethnicity, and Equity), the life course, health systems and services and outbreaks and crisis responses;
• Coordinate human rights efforts at the regional, national, and local levels and communicate regularly with Country Offices in coordination with ombudsperson offices, human rights commissions and other governmental officials working in the field of human rights; non-governmental institutions: members of civil society; consumer organizations and family members (among others) in order to prepare common activities and strategies on human rights and public health issues;
• Support the Organization’s technical cooperation in the formulation, review and, if necessary, reform of national health policies, plans and legislation, incorporating the applicable international and regional human rights instruments, norms and standards;
• Serve as WHO focal point on Human Rights for the Americas (AMRO) in close collaboration with the corresponding WHO Headquarters Office and other regions of WHO and communicate with them virtually and face to face, as appropriate;
• Participate in on-site visits to national institutions such as hospitals, health services and health centers amongst others and prepare reports and/or draft strategies/plans of action for presentation to PAHO’s Governing Bodies, Member States, Country Offices and Technical Units, as appropriate, in order to promote the application of regional and international human rights norms and standards;

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must have:

• University degree in law and a master’s degree in international law, political science, international relations or other discipline related to Human Rights, from a recognized institution.
• Admission to practice law in a PAHO Member State would be an asset.
• 9 years of combined national and international experience preferably within the Regional and/or International Human Rights Systems in juridical work and human rights research, with emphasis on the Right to Health and public health issues; familiarity with human rights and public health, and legislative, judicial and socio-political issues.
• Very good knowledge of English and Spanish. Knowledge of French and/or Portuguese would be an asset.

How to Apply

Applicants must submit their applications through online process.

For more information, visit WHO.