What Is a Human Rights Officer?
A human rights officer (HRO) monitors, reports on, and attempts to redress violations of the civil, social, cultural, and political rights basic to humankind, as initially defined by the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Most work for the United Nations, which maintains 12 country offices and 12 regional offices throughout the world. A few are employed by other organizations and governments. The job can involve gathering information on human rights violations, visiting victims, interacting with government leaders, and attending trials. A master's degree in law, public administration, or other relevant field is generally required.
| Required Education | Master's degree in law, public administration, or related field |
| Other Requirements | Foreign language proficiency, experience in human rights issues |
| Areas Where HROs are Employed | Africa region, Middle East & North Africa region, Asia Pacific region, Europe & Central Asia region, and Americas region |
| Salary (2020)* | $62,806 |
Source: salary.com*
Human Rights Officer: Job Description
Human rights officers work, to a large extent, for the United Nations. Others may work for the U.S. Department of State or specific international organizations. HROs receive and investigate complaints of human rights, for such abuses as discrimination of minorities or women, unjust imprisonment, violence against children, and religious intolerance. The positions of United Nations' HROs vary from those that are entry level to those classified as chief of field operations. The UN also has a specific program for HROs as volunteers.
Job Duties
The numerous duties of HROs include identifying human rights violations, gathering information and facts, interviewing those violated and the violators, and visiting displaced persons and prisoners. It also includes observing trials and elections and monitoring demonstrations. Sometimes it is necessary to intervene with local authorities on behalf of victims. Work with other organizations, such as the International Labour Organization, United Nations Children's Fund, and the International Criminal Court, is often necessary.
In 2018, the United Nations employed about 900 human rights officers and support staff worldwide in 13 Human Rights Components of UN peace missions in the following places:
- Afghanistan
- Central African Republic
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Guinea Bissau
- Haiti
- Iraq
- Kosovo
- Liberia
- Libya
- Mali
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sudan
How to Become a Human Rights Officer
To qualify as an HRO, a master's degree is usually required in an area such as law, peacekeeping management, public administration, political science, or international relations. Skills in foreign language are essential, particularly for the region in which the HRO works. Knowledge of and experience with social, cultural, and economic human rights issues is important.
Human Rights Officer: Salary
Examples of United Nations gross salaries for field service personnel as of 2019 are as follows:
- For the FS-2 level with one year of experience: $44,046
- For the FS-3 level with one year of experience: $49,575
- For the FS-4 level with one year of experience: $56,550
As a human rights officer, you'll have the important job of recognizing and stopping human rights violations around the world. You'll need to be observant, capable of speaking a foreign language and knowledgeable about a variety of human rights issues in order to be a successful human rights officer.
