Description: The Researcher will monitor, document and investigate human rights developments in Iran and the United Arab Emirates in order to publicize and curtail human rights abuses through writing and advocacy. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, monitoring, investigating, and documenting human rights developments in Iran and the United Arab Emirates; maintaining working relationships with local, regional and international human rights activists, journalists, diplomats, and others; conducting fact-finding investigations in the region and elsewhere as appropriate; devising and implementing innovative research strategies when in-country fact finding is not possible; writing detailed reports, briefing memos, press releases, op-eds, articles, and government letters in a concise and accurate manner, usually on short deadlines; developing local and international advocacy strategies to influence the human rights policies of governments in the MENA region, Europe, the United States, and the United Nations as well as intergovernmental organizations and international institutions through correspondence, briefings, and personal contact; responding promptly to queries from the press, the public, and colleagues in the human rights community; and other responsibilities as may be assigned. The researcher should be prepared to travel to the Middle East and Europe for research and advocacy purposes. This is a full-time position, and will preferably be based in HRW’s New York or Washington, D.C. office.
Qualifications: The successful candidate will be scrupulously objective, able to investigate and report on abuses without prejudice or favor, in contexts that are often highly charged politically. S/he must be comfortable working under public scrutiny, flexible, and able to respond quickly to crises as they occur. S/he should have good knowledge of international human rights and humanitarian law and Middle East affairs. An advanced degree in law, international relations, journalism, Middle East studies, or a related field in the social sciences is required. Experience in human rights work, especially research on countries in the region, is required. Candidates should be fluent in English and Farsi, with excellent oral and written skills in both languages. Knowledge of Arabic is highly desirable. The ideal candidate will be highly motivated, extremely well-organized, collegial, and able to work well under pressure and handle numerous tasks simultaneously. He or she must be willing to take initiative, prioritize with minimal supervision, and work independently as well as function as a member of a team. The successful candidate should have a demonstrated commitment to international human rights.
Salary and Benefits: Human Rights Watch seeks exceptional candidates and offers competitive compensation, along with generous employer-paid benefits. HRW will pay reasonable relocation expenses and will assist employees in obtaining the necessary work authorization; non-U.S. citizens are encouraged to apply.
PLEASE APPLY IMMEDIATELY Due to internal staffing reasons, Human Rights Watch will not begin interviewing for this position until the Spring of 2008. We will be accepting applications in the interim period and encourage all interested candidates to apply (no calls or email inquiries, please) by emailing together a letter of interest, resume, references, and a brief writing sample (unedited by others) to ashrafa@hrw.org. Please use “Researcher on Iran/United Arab Emirates” as the subject of your email. Only complete applications will be reviewed. It is preferred that all materials be submitted via email. If emailing is not possible, send materials (please do not split a submission between email and regular post) to:
Human Rights Watch
Attn: Search Committee (Researcher on Iran/United Arab Emirates)
350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor
New York, NY 10118-3299 USA
Fax: (212) 736-1300
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Human Rights Watch is an international human rights monitoring and advocacy organization known for its in-depth investigations, its incisive and timely reporting, its innovative and high-profile advocacy campaigns, and its success in changing the human rights-related policies and practices of influential governments and international institutions.
The Middle East and North Africa (“MENA”) division monitors issues related to human rights and international humanitarian law from Morocco to Iran.