Legal Officer

This position is open for secondment only and participating States are kindly reminded that all costs in relation to assignment at HCNM 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 High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) was established in 1992 to identify and seek early resolution of ethnic tensions that might endanger peace, stability or friendly relations between OSCE participating States. 

Under the guidance of the Senior Legal Advise, the incumbent will carry out research and analysis of specific aspects of legal issues relating to human rights, national minorities and other legal areas. More specifically, he/she will perform the following duties:

• Carrying out research and preparing reports on legal issues relating to national minorities, such issues may bear upon the general field or upon specialized aspects of human rights protection in international and national law including constitutional law;
• Selecting and analyzing relevant international and national legal materials from identified sources or collections for the preparation of reports or studies thereon for their classification as reference material;
• Providing preliminary interpretation of legal instruments, such as treaties, agreements, regulations and rules, decisions or other legal materials such as jurisprudence of international bodies, relevant to the work of the Office;
• Providing assistance on subject matters regarding legal and related issues by preparing background materials, reports, papers and other documents for meetings and other related activities;
• Carrying out a preliminary review of relevant materials and texts which have been received by the Office and providing analysis and summary comments;
• Assisting in the preparation of materials and travel to countries within the region of responsibility to support High Commissioner visits;
• Carrying out other related duties as assigned, including advising on issues arising from the HCNM law and other Dutch legal regulations;
• Performing other related duties as assigned.

• Advanced university degree in international law, comparative law and politics, international relations or related fields with specialisation in the international protection of human rights, in particular minority rights;
• Four years of progressively responsible professional experience in dealing with minority issues and human rights, international relations, public adminstration or other related field, including at least two years at the international level;
• Excellent knowledge of English including drafting skills; knowledge of other OSCE working languages would be an asset;
• Computer literacy;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities; Ability to establish and maintain effective and constructive working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds while maintaining impartiality and objectivity.

This post is open for secondment. Candidates are requested to apply through the OSCE desk of the respective Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Delayed nominations will not be considered.

Please note that vacancies in the OSCE are open for competition only amongst nationals of participating States, please see http://www.osce.org/who/83.

The OSCE is committed to achieving a better balance of women and men within the Organization. The nomination of female candidates is particularly encouraged.

The OSCE is a non-career organization committed to the principle of staff rotation. No application fees or information with respect to bank account details are required by OSCE for our recruitment process.