Legal advisor

Do you want to work in a human rights organization that makes a concrete and positive difference for vulnerable people around the world? And do you have masters degree in law and a focus on accountability for human rights violations and international crimes?
Then DIGNITY can offer you an exciting opportunity, as we have a vacant position as legal advisor in our department for Prevention and Accountability (P&A).

Since 1982, DIGNITY has worked for a world free of torture and violence. We are a human rights and development organization that also runs a rehabilitation clinic in Denmark. We prevent torture and violence, treat traumatized victims, and document serious human rights violations so that those responsible can be held accountable.

In our P&A department, we have gathered our advisory work on torture and human rights, where we have a particular focus on strategic and knowledge development as well as advising DIGNITY's international partners in torture prevention, documentation, accountability and advocacy. The department has appr. 15 employees including the management team (the department director and the deputy director).

About the position
As legal advisor your focus will be on accountability for human rights violations and international crimes.

Your primary tasks are:

• 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 collecting, recording, preserving and storing relevant information.
• 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 international advocacy in relation to United Nations, Council of Europe and OSCE.

The focus will be on Ukraine with some attention paid to other Eastern European countries in the short-term, and possibly other regions in the longer-term.

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 international humanitarian law, substantial and procedural.
• Experience in documenting torture and other human rights violations and international crimes, including collecting, recording, preserving and storing relevant information.
• 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.
• Professional experience from Ukraine is a distinctive asset.
• Fluency in English with proven writing skills.

Competency in written and oral Ukrainian and/or Russian will be considered a distinctive 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 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.

Terms of employment
The position is placed in DIGNITY's Prevention and Accountability Department with reference to the department director.

Your place of employment is Copenhagen at our main address at Bryggervangen 55, 2100 Kbh. Ø.

We expect you to have a civil registry address in Denmark during the full employment. We do not offer the possiblity to work from home from abroad. Please note, that the position will not be filled on a consultancy basis.

Expected entry is ugust 15, 2024, or as soon as possible thereafter.

Your working hours are 37 hours per week.

You are expected to have up to 45 days of travel activity per year.

The employment is based on the Danish collective agreement for academics in the state. The salary level is based on skills and relevant. Please note that we do not offer coverage of cost in connection to a move to Denmark.

More info
Further information regarding the position can be obtained by contacting our department director, Therese Rytter, on tel. 60 10 88 10 /email: [email protected].

Applications with CV, diploma and any other relevant documents are submitted via the link no later than May 22, 2024.

We expect to hold interviews on June 3, 2024, in Copenhagen or digitally, and possibly also a second round of interviews on June 19, 2024, which will take place in Copenhagen. Travelcosts for Copenhagen will be covered for a possible second round of interviews.

You can read about DIGNITY's processing of your personal data in our privacy policy, which you can find here: https://www.dignity.dk/privatlivspolitik/

DIGNITY is an international human rights and development organization that has worked for a world free of torture and violence since 1982. We prevent torture and violence, treat traumatized victims and document serious human rights violations so that those responsible can be prosecuted. You can read more about our organization and work at www.dignity.dk. DIGNITY regards diversity as a strength and therefore encourages all qualified persons to apply for the position regardless of ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion or age.

Apply

If you have any questions, please contact

Therese Rytter
Phone: 60108810

Application deadline:

22. May 2024 kl.23:59