Switzerland: Head of the Secretariat for the Convention against Torture Initiative

Organization: Association for the Prevention of Torture
Country: Switzerland
Closing date: 09 Jan 2015

A position as Head of a new Secretariat for the Convention against Torture Initiative is available from early 2015

Deadline for submission: 9 January 2015.

Proposed start date: as soon as possible and no later than 1 March 2015

Convention against Torture Initiative (CTI)

In March 2014, the Governments of Chile, Denmark, Ghana, Indonesia and Morocco marked the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention against Torture (UNCAT) by launching a ten-year global initiative for the universal ratification and implementation of the Convention. The Convention against Torture Initiative (CTI) aims to promote technical advice, support and cooperation among UNCAT States parties as well as non-States parties – in order to help States overcome technical and capacity-related obstacles to ratification and implementation of the Convention.

In connection to the CTI, a Group of Friends has been established where Governments, civil society organisations and experts sharing the vision and the ambition of the CTI are invited to join. The Group of Friends will serve as a platform for the exchange of knowledge, experience and ideas on how to overcome obstacles to ratification and implementation of the UNCAT. Friends of the CTI will be involved in the achievements, progress and development of the CTI through annual meetings in Geneva and in New York.

For further information on the Initiative, please see www.apt.ch/cti.

The CTI Secretariat / duties and responsibilities

The Initiative has in 2014 been developed with the assistance of the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) and a designated CTI desk officer. For 2015 and onwards, an independent CTI Secretariat will be established and located in APT.

The CTI receives its policy and strategic directions from the five founding/spearheading countries: Chile, Denmark, Ghana, Indonesia and Morocco. The CTI Secretariat will be managed on a daily basis by the Head of Secretariat. The Head of the Secretariat reports directly to the countries spearheading the CTI and will:

• Develop policy and strategy proposals for the CTI in order for the CTI to reach its overall objective of universal ratification and implementation of UNCAT before 2024.
• Work to place the CTI internationally as a primary facilitator of support for governments and the primary facilitator of peer support and advice among governments, including at regional level, related to ratification and implementation of UNCAT.
• Develop and manage a communication strategy and platform for the CTI, including website and social networks;
• Develop and manage relations to the CTI Group of Friends;
• Liaise with other relevant international stakeholders to build alliances and seek synergies for the CTI vision.
• Function as secretariat for the five countries behind the CTI, i.e. by supporting political and diplomatic outreach efforts related to the CTI, and by organizing, preparing and reporting from the countries’ governance meetings.
• Organize annual CTI Forums, meetings with the Group of Friends, HRC/UNGA side events etc.
• Implement / assist in the implementation of selected CTI substance activities according to the CTI activity plans.
• Develop and manage a long term fundraising strategy for CTI.
• Ensure transparency and accountability of the CTI through the development of measurable targets and indicators as well as the delivery of annual narrative and financial reports.

The Secretariat will initially consist of the Head of Secretariat and a full time academic staff member (to be hired as soon as possible in a process led by the Head of the Secretariat). The Secretariat will be able to draw on logistical support from its host organization, the APT, just as the APT will be responsible for bookkeeping of and accounting for CTI expenditures.

Further growth of the CTI Secretary will rely on future fundraising. The core budget of the Secretariat (as described above) as well as seed money for activities (amounting to a total of annually DKK 5 million) will be funded by the Danish Government.

About you

As the Head of the CTI Secretariat:

• You have at least 10 years of relevant international work experience.
• You have an advanced university degree in a relevant field
• You possess a good understanding of working in diplomacy among and with a multitude of stakeholders from different backgrounds and cultures.
• You have experience dealing with issues associated to the prevention, prohibition, accountability and/or redress from torture and other forms of ill-treatment.
• You have knowledge of the United Nations system, and it will be considered an asset if you have professional experience with international human rights bodies
• You have solid experience in working on project or campaigning management.
• You have a record of being innovative, creative and proactive.
• You can set priorities, develop work schedules, monitor progress towards goals, and track details/data/information/activities.
• You can determine strategies to move the organization forward, set goals, create and implement action plans, and evaluate process and results.
• You are comfortable with teamwork, working cooperatively and effectively with a variety of different stakeholders.
• You have excellent communication skills in terms of speaking, listening and writing using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques.

Language requirements

You are fluent in English – written and oral – and you also speak fluent French. Good communication skills in one other official UN language will be considered an asset.

Job location

Geneva, Switzerland. The CTI Secretariat will be hosted by the Association for the Prevention of Torture (www.apt.ch).

Terms of employment

Great working environment with a multicultural team operating globally. Average international NGO salary, Geneva rates over 12 months. Standard Swiss pension scheme. Accident and travel insurance. Holidays total 25 days per year.

How to apply:

Applications should be sent by: 9 January 2015, by email to Signe Lind, CTI Project Officer, slind@apt.ch.

Applications should consist of:

• A motivating letter
• CV
• University degrees
• Contact details of two recent professional referees

Contact For more information on the vacancy announcement, please contact Signe Lind at slind@apt.ch or +41 (0)78 976 0277.