Opportunities

• Current Secretariat vacancies

  Engage in work that improves our shared world: Legal Officer at the CTI

  Would you like to engage in work that positively impacts individuals and societies across the globe?

  Join Geneva based Convention against of Torture Initiative (CTI) in our mission to achieve universal ratification and effective implementation of the UN Convention against Torture (UNCAT) by 2024.

  The persistence of torture and ill-treatment remain very real threats to our shared world, demanding a robust, sustained and viable response. Launched in March 2014, CTI is the conceptualisation of a group of UN Member States that are using their collective voice to create and advance this ten-year global initiative to eradicate torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment worldwide. CTI’s overall aspiration is to support and advise States and their officials, in a constructive, no-name, no-shame format, on fair and effective institutional, legislative, policy and other frameworks. To do so, we harness international cooperation, peer-to-peer-dialogues and capacity building to achieve our mission. To date, 19 new States have ratified UNCAT, outperforming ratification rates of most other global human rights treaties, while hundreds of public officials have participated in CTI events, conferences and seminars and received technical implementation advice and in doing so, have gained knowledge and skills, learned about latest technological advances, and become part of our expert networks.

  Role Requirements

  Continue your career in a legacy building role that utilises your skills and expertise!

  We are looking for an individual specialising in torture prevention and response who will champion CTI’s efforts toward States’ technical and capacity building, including identifying and cultivating key relationships that contribute to the overall success of our programme of events, conferences and technical seminars.

  We’re seeking a highly collaborative, skilled and experienced specialist with robust legal qualifications and background in international human rights law and a deep understanding of country, regional and cultural sensitivities and diplomatic protocol to join our small CTI Secretariat team. In this role you will support, advise and collaborate closely with partners and other stakeholders to deliver specific outcomes aligned with our annual targets.

  Integral to this is your role in advising government practitioners and policy-makers on anti-torture institutional, legislative and practical frameworks and modalities. You will be involved in providing confidential advice, as well as designing and coordinating CTI capacity building programmes for, amongst others, regional peer-to-peer exchanges (conferences and seminars), visiting inter-ministerial delegations to Geneva, as well as CTI in-country diplomatic and technical delegation visits and seminars. You will exercise astute judgment in all areas, have a full grasp of the workings of the UN human rights machinery, and be able to identify and take advantage of key opportunities.

  As part of CTI’s suite of activities, you will conduct and compile detailed and accurate research and relevant materials that inform discussions including substantive legal and regional/country briefing packages, implementation tools, agenda preparation, report-writing and strategic forward-looking analysis and planning. For major events you will be required to coordinate and liaise with partners, stakeholders, vendors and others to ensure seamless event execution. Experience in event management and coordination will be an asset.

  Is this role for you?

  You are a legal professional adept at building and navigating positive relationships with a wide range of diverse stakeholders and team members. Buttressed by your deep knowledge of the international anti-torture and related frameworks and UN processes and systems, you are committed to delivering superior quality, timely and impactful results. Working within a small and extremely active team, this position demands a highly motivated, results-driven and hardworking individual. The position is suited to innovative professionals who are motivated by the opportunity to lead and deliver specific project outcomes. Understanding of how states operate including country, regional and cultural sensitivities and diplomatic protocol are essential. To help achieve CTI’s mission, you can travel extensively to diverse countries and regions across the globe.

  Required Competencies and Attributes

  • Advanced university degree (masters or above) required, with specialisation in human rights law, criminal law or international law.
  • 4+ years of progressively responsible professional legal experience, with an emphasis in human rights, criminal law or international law.
  • Expert knowledge of international standards relevant to torture and ill-treatment and the United Nations human rights frameworks and processes required.
  • Outstanding English drafting skills, and strong organisational and communication skills.
  • Track record of managing high level delivery of projects and outcomes.
  • Language requirements: English is the working language of the CTI Secretariat. A second, relevant language – with relevant qualifications – is desirable (e.g. Arabic, French, Portuguese, Spanish).
  • Applied knowledge of and contacts in one or more of CTI focus regions (Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, the Pacific) would be a distinct advantage.
  • Excellent research skills.

  Key Details to Remember

  • This position is based in Geneva, Switzerland.
  • Compensation is commensurate with experience and qualifications and comparable to Swiss NGO salaries.

  Interest piqued – ready to apply?

  To apply, please submit the following documents in ENGLISH to recruitment@cti2024.org:

  1. Cover letter indicating reasons why you are interested in the role, how you fulfil the criteria and required competencies, identifying your achievements/results from your most recent position, and indicate your earliest start date;
  2. CV of no more than three pages, including the names and contact details of at least three referees, two of which from recent (last 10 years) employment;
  3. Results transcript of your highest degree earned and language certificates.

   

  Deadline for applications:

  1^st March, 2024

• Roster of Experts and Special Advisers – CTI’s Advice Hub

  CTI relies on expert and specialist advisers from police and law enforcement, correctional and prison fields, torture prevention specialists, human rights lawyers, legislative drafters, and others to respond to the growing demand for CTI’s technical and capacity building advice. Our experts and special advisers come from diverse regions and professional backgrounds, and they support CTI’s work; for example, through research and studies, one-on-one professional advice to national authorities and institutions, training and capacity building activities, or participating in visits to countries. They form an important part of CTI’s new Advice Hub, our interactive support platform for State authorities and national institutions and officials seeking information on the ratification and implementation of the UN Convention against Torture.

  Watch this space for a new call for experts and special advisers in 2022!

• Consultancies

  There are currently no vacancies.

• Internships

  There are currently no vacancies.

  CTI's Interns

  CTI is grateful to its past and current interns for their important contributions to our work towards the universal ratification and implementation of UNCAT. We are working with academic institutions in Geneva and around the world to offer graduate students the opportunity to learn about our work and develop a range of professional skills through internships. Annually we offer paid as well as “for course credit” internship placements at our Secretariat in Geneva. Due to the current Covid-19 situation, it is now possible to pursue them remotely from anywhere around the world.

  CTI’s expectations of our Interns

  As part of the CTI Secretariat team, the CTI Intern will be involved in a range of tasks including:

  • research and analysis of country situations, policy and legal issues;
  • support for the preparation of major regional events, technical workshops, missions or expert meetings, covering all aspects including substantive and logistical inputs;
  • drafting and editing of various documents, including advice notes, speeches, research papers, concept notes, minutes of meetings, etc.;
  • attending and reporting on bilateral or multilateral meetings at the United Nations and other organisations;
  • other tasks as they arise.

   The intern might also be assigned to one or two specific subjects/projects, or research/drafting.

  Intern’s expectations

  Through our Internship Programme, CTI Interns will

  • gain a deeper understanding of the Convention against Torture, its Optional Protocol and associated legal frameworks and rules, as well as its implementation in practice,
  • be privy to the workings of a diplomatic initiative and understand better the challenges facing States regarding ratification and implementation of an international treaty, and
  • practice and develop “professional skills”, such as project and time management, prioritization, team work, research, analysis and drafting, etc.

  The internship will involve a mix of substantive and administrative contributions. As we are a small Secretariat, there is a certain amount of administrative work being done by each staff member and while efforts are made to keep this to a minimum, all staff members and interns are expected to contribute fully to the collective work of the Secretariat.

  Travel

  While travel and/or participation in CTI events are not guaranteed, Interns may be asked to join the CTI Secretariat at particular events, subject to need and availability. Our previous interns travelled with us to Denmark, Ghana and Uganda!

  Qualifications and experience of the Intern

  CTI interns will have studied/be studying international human rights law, and would ideally be in the final year of a relevant Masters or equivalent postgraduate programme, or undertaking a PhD programme. Fluency in English is required, while working knowledge of another UN language (particularly Arabic, French or Spanish) would be considered favourably. While not a formal requirement, any relevant work or volunteer experience will of course be taken into account in the selection of our Interns. The Intern should in particular have excellent research, analytical and drafting skills, be well-organised and motivated.

  Payment, duration and visas

  CTI Internships are paid or “for course credit” and are generally expected to last for 6 months, with the possibility of extension subject to need and availability. During term time, Internships may be part-time, while during summer months, it is expected that Internships will be full-time.

  For Geneva-based Interns, they will need to possess a valid visa allowing period of Internship, or otherwise be a citizen of Switzerland/EU/EEA. The Intern must possess health insurance for the duration of the Internship, and responsible for any taxes and any other liabilities arising from the Internship.

  Vacancies will be posted here.

• Visiting professors and academics

  We are open to hosting visiting professors, academics or others who are on sabbatical leave and self-funded, and wishing to pursue research relevant to CTI’s programme of work, or otherwise support CTI’s activities. Visiting professors/academics will have the right to reside / stay in Switzerland for the duration of their stay. Expected period of stay would be between 3-6 months. A small fee may be imposed on visiting professors/academics to cover CTI costs of hosting.

Please check this page at a later stage or get in touch with our Secretariat.

Contact us: recruit_cti@cti2024.org