Special Rapporteurship on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights

Attorney, Specialist in Human Rights and Indigenous Peoples’ Rights

Request for resumés

        The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (“IACHR”) invites applications from attorneys specializing in human rights and indigenous peoples to work in the Special Rapporteurship on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights (“Rapporteurship”) to assist in the execution of its activities, to prepare and publish thematic studies, analyze jurisprudence within the system for individual cases, conduct research and country visits and prepare general reports.

This job announcement is made within the framework of the “Promotion for Participation and Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples in the Americas” project financed by the Spanish government.

Date of posting:      November 1, 2007

Closing date:          November 30, 2007

Starting date:         January 15, 2008

Duration:               One year

Salary:                   Competitive salary according to experience and assigned duties

Location:               IACHR headquarters

Washington, D.C., United States 

The Inter-American Commission will only consider applications submitted before the closing date and which contain required documents and that comply with the requirements in this job announcement.

Expected results:

1.  To collaborate with lawyers of the Executive Secretariat of the IACHR in the processing of requests, cases and requests for precautionary measures related to indigenous peoples’ rights.

2.  To prepare draft reports on petitions and cases relative to indigenous peoples.

3.  Preparation of reference studies on indigenous peoples. Identification of common patterns in cases related to international complaints due to acts of violence and discrimination against indigenous peoples. Preparation and presentation to the IACHR of suggestions for general recommendations related to indigenous peoples’ rights.

4.  Preparation of informative presentations and summaries of thematic and country studies, and cases published by the Rapporteurship and the IACHR, as well as others subjects related to the indigenous peoples in the region.

5.  To prepare country and thematic reports, including the editing of the translations, to be published by the Rapporteurship on matters related to indigenous peoples’ rights.

6.  To organize fact-finding and observation missions necessary to analyze the situation of the indigenous peoples in determined countries and the preparation of follow-up reports.

7.  Diffusion of international standards on indigenous peoples’ rights.

8.  Promotion and diffusion of information about the Inter-American system of human rights and the Rapporteurship on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights.

9.  Updating of IACHR web page specifically on the work of the Rapporteurship and the
Commission in the area of the rights of indigenous peoples.

Minimum requirements: 

• Law degree from a recognized university.

• More than one year of practical experience in the field of human rights, with emphasis on indigenous peoples’ rights.

• Practical experience working with indigenous peoples of the Americas.

• Knowledge of international human rights and the domestic right of Member States of the
  OAS, related with indigenous peoples. Knowledge of the mechanisms for the
  international protection of human rights. 

• Experience in drafting reports regarding with human rights and indigenous peoples’ rights.

• Proven capacity to conduct legal research and to draft Reports and recommendations. 

• Fluency in Spanish and English; knowledge of French and Portuguese is desirable.

• Excellent ability for oral and written communication.  Ability to communicate with people of all social and educative levels.

• Capacity to do teamwork and to produce results within short deadlines.

Required documents for application: 

• Cover letter. 

• Updated Curriculum Vitae.

• Copy of the law degree and copies of any diploma, certificate any academic degree or
  documents that accredit fulfillment of the educational and work experience requirements established in this announcement.

• Unpublished written work in English or Spanish.

• Three references with contact information.

 Subject to discretion of the IACHR, the finalists will be asked to respond to additional questions.

Subject to the level of satisfactory work performance, the contract could be extended for one year.

The documents must be submitted by mail to the following address:

Inter-American Commission of Human Rights

Organization of American States

1889 F Street, N.W. Washington, DC  20006, U.S.A.

Fax: (202) 458-3992

or by electronic mail to cidhoea@oas.org 

Please indicate CIDH/RPI/ProyectoEspaña/07 as subject matter.