Position Title: Human Rights Advisor in the Office of the Special Representative
Receiving Agency: Gang Suppression Force Secretariat Haiti
P Level: P4
Location: Port au Prince, Haiti
Duration: 18 months (Until Sep, 2027)
Language: French and English fluency required. Familiarity with Haitian Creole an asset. 

Background

On 30 September 2025, the United Nations Security Council authorized, in resolution 2793 (UNSCR 2793), Member States to transition the deployed Multinational Security Support (MSS) in Haiti to the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), in close cooperation and coordination with the Government of Haiti, for an initial period of twelve months. The GSF mandate includes multiple tasks, including to conduct intelligence-led targeted, counter-gang operations to neutralize, isolate, and deter gangs that continue to threaten the civilian population, abuse human rights and undermine Haitian institutions.

The United Nations Secretary-General is authorized to establish a UN Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH) to provide comprehensive logistical and operational support to the GSF and to the Haitian National police (HNP) and the Haitian armed forces on any joint operations with the GSF. UNSOH will also provide technical support, through voluntary funding contributions, to the Organization of American States (OAS) SECURE-Haiti project and will provide standard United Nations mission support services to the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH).

The Standing Group of Partners (SGP) has the role of providing, in consultation with the Government of Haiti, high-level strategic direction, oversight, and relevant political decision-making for the GSF as appropriate. The SGP is overall responsible for (a) securing voluntary financial contributions for GSF personnel costs reimbursements; (b) facilitating force (military and police) generation; and (c) providing high level strategic representation and coordination for the GSF.

The SGP shall appoint a Special Representative (SR) who, as in-country head of the GSF, will report to the SGP and provide strategic oversight, representation and coordination for the GSF. The SGP appointed GSF Force Commander shall report to the SR and is responsible for operational command and day-to-day operational decision-making for the uniformed components of the GSF.

The SR is supported by an Office of the SR (the civilian component of the GSF).

Career Experience

The Human Rights Advisor shall have: a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience at the national and international levels in the field of human rights, with development and/or humanitarian experience, is required. Experience implementing human rights technical cooperation or mainstreaming activities is required. Experience working on human rights issues in Haiti, related to the Caribbean region or similar field contexts is desirable. An advanced University degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in human rights, law, political science, international relations or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Languages

Fluency in English and French (both oral and written) is required. Fluency in Haitian Creole (Kreyòl Ayisyen) is an advantage

Responsibilities of the Human Rights Advisor

The Human Rights Advisor is based in Port-au-Prince and shall report to the Deputy Chief of Staff (DCoS), and is responsible for advising and assisting the SR and Force Commander to uphold international human rights law (IHRL) in the implementation of the GSF mandate, as well as relevant international humanitarian law (IHL), including on the rights of women and children. The Human Rights Advisor shall advise the SR and the Force Commander directly, as appropriate, in coordination with the DCoS and CoS.

The Human Rights Advisor shall during GSF start-up and thereafter be responsible for the following tasks:

• Produce a work plan for the Human Rights team for approval by the DCoS.
• In consultation with the DCoS recruit the Human Rights Officer and thereafter oversee the day-to-day work of Human Rights Officer.
• Provide activity data and function related information as requested to inform the GSF budget submission and review process.  
• Acts as the GSF mission level focal point for Human Rights matters, consulting and working with other GSF staff in related areas, including: the Justice/Rule of Law Liaison Officer, the DDR/CVR Liaison Officer, the Gender Adviser, the Woman Protection Adviser, the Child Protection Adviser, the GSF Police Component, the GSF Military Component, the Political Affairs Unit, the Humanitarian Adviser and the Senior Legal Adviser.
• Contribute to GSF start-up planning, including transition from MSS, and thereafter contribute to GSF mission planning activities.
• Assist the Chief Strategic Communications to develop responses to harmful mis/disinformation that impact understanding of International Human Rights Law.
• Establish collaboration with the BINUH Human Rights Service (HRS) and the United Nations Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), building upon their ongoing experience operating in Haiti, including in support of the MSS.
• Establish contacts with civil society representatives, government authorities and institutions as appropriate to assist with monitoring and reporting on alleged human rights violations and abuses involving GSF personnel.
• In support of the Force Commander and the Senior Legal Adviser, ensure that the rules of engagement and any directives on the use of force developed and approved by the SR, are in strict compliance with international human rights law.
• In consultation with the Force Commander and DCoS, ensure that international human rights norms and standards are central to GSF collective efforts, including actions of its civilian and uniformed components, consulting with BINUH HRS and the OHCHR on relevant policy and operational issues as needed.
• In consultation with the DDR-CVR Liaison Officer, assist the GSF Force Headquarters to develop guidance (e.g. Standard Operating Procedures - SOPs) on the treatment of gang members to be transferred to Haitian authorities and/or DDR/CVR programmes, including on inception/detention.
• In consultation with the Child Protection Advisor and the DDR-CVR Liaison Officer assist the GSF Force Headquarters to develop procedures on handling all individuals below the age of 18 intercepted or detained by the GSF.
• Support the Chief Conduct and Discipline Team to develop the GSF Code of Conduct, and thereafter assist to ensure its dissemination to all GSF members, including through induction and periodic familiarization briefings. 
• Assist the SR, through the DCoS, to ensure that an in-country Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Code of Conduct and strategy is developed that includes risk management mechanisms, and safe and accessible complaint mechanisms.
• Establish a GSF human rights monitoring and reporting system, including procedures for handling sensitive information; and in consultation the DCoS and the Chief Conduct and Discipline Team, establish an information documentation processing system for human rights and sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) that will maintain confidentiality of victims, witnesses and other sources.
• Ensure the reporting system includes appropriate dissemination within the GSF and OHCHR as appropriate, with recommendations for corrective action.
• In consultation with OHCHR, develop options for follow-up action that may include public statements through SR, and/or diplomatic demarches with national authorities.
• In coordination with BINUH HRS and OHCHR, support monitoring, investigation and reporting for human rights violations and abuses, including sexual violence committed by armed actors, which includes those committed by organized criminal gangs, self-defence groups, the Haitian National Police, the Haitian military and the GSF.
• Assist as appropriate, the SR and Force Commander to establish a compliance mechanism, building on the outgoing MSS compliance mechanism to prevent and address violations or abuses of human rights, including tackling sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment, related to the GSF.
• Assist or facilitate UNSOH and OHCHR efforts within the GSF and its troop and police contributing countries to implement the UN Human Rights Due Diligence Policy (HRDDP).
• Bring urgent or problematic Human Rights issues to the attention of the SR, through the DCoS, as soon as possible and provide advice on further management or response to these.
• Establish or participate in a ‘Human Rights network’ with BINUH HRS, the GSF Force Headquarters, the Office of the SR and OHCHR to ensure the efficient flow and sharing of information necessary to support Human Rights compliance efforts across all entities.
• Convene or participate in regular (at least weekly) Human Rights monitoring and reporting meetings with BINUH HRS, OHCHR and GSF components.
• In the absence of the GSF Women’s Protection Adviser, participate in the monthly meetings of the Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Arrangements (MARA), chaired by the BINUH Senior Women’s Protection Adviser, and contribute data to assist in the analysis and verification of incidents of sexual violence committed by armed actors.
• In consultation with BINUH HRS and OHCHR, provide the SR, through the DCoS, with a periodic ‘Human Rights situation report’ that includes the highlighting of current and anticipated issues and priorities.  
• Ensure handover notes are produced to ensure institutional knowledge is passed to incoming replacement staff.

The Human Rights Officer may be requested by the Deputy CoS or CoS to perform other duties, as required.




CANADEM and its partners have a no-tolerance policy for inaction to prevent, respond to and follow up on alleged cases of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH). For this reason, we adhere to all policies, procedures and training of the United Nations on The Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH). CANADEM mandates all deployees successfully complete the PSEA online course. This e-learning course is composed of a set of lessons designed to raise awareness about SEAH, become familiar with a range of measures to combat SEAH, understand the impact on victims and the consequences for UN Personnel who commit Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment.