DIGNITY

DIGNITY IS LOOKING FOR A LEGAL ADVISOR

 

Would you like to work in a unique human rights, health and development organization? And are you a lawyer with international experience from the fields of human rights, torture prevention and criminal justice?

 

Then DIGNITY - Danish Institute Against Torture can offer you an exciting opportunity as Legal Advisor in our Legal Department.

 

We were founded in 1982 as one of the world's first torture rehabilitation centres. Today, we are a leading player in research-based torture prevention of torture and rehabilitation worldwide.

 

DIGNITY’s Legal Department has fives international lawyers, two students, and interns. Our engagements span from state dialogue and cooperation with criminal justice institutions, to documentation of torture, preventive monitoring of places of detention, and national and international advocacy together with human rights organization in the global south. In achieving DIGNITY’s aims, we work across professional disciplines and cultures with colleagues in Denmark, our country offices in Jordan and Tunisia, and our partner organizations worldwide.

 

The position

 

The Legal Advisor refers to our Legal Director. As Legal Advisor you will:

 

• Contribute to the development of DIGNITY’s strategies, programmes, projects and methodologies on preventing and combating torture, and the use of pre-trial detention and non-custodial measures.
• Provide legal advice and build capacity among actors within the criminal justice sector, notably prosecution services and judiciaries, primarily in North Africa.
• Conduct legal research, draft guidance documents and legal briefs/articles within DIGNITY’s mandate for DIGNITY’s publication series and, when relevant, for peer-reviewed journals.
• Forge alliances with national and international organisations of relevance to DIGNITY’s mandate and its criminal justice engagements and contribute to the drafting of funding proposals
• Undertake national and international advocacy with the aim of enhancing compliance in the above fields within DIGNITY’s partner countries.

 

We offer you:

 

• A chance to contribute to significant change on the ground in preventing torture.
• A dynamic working environment with highly skilled and motivated colleagues.
• A position with considerable responsibility and room for shaping your portfolio.
• A work-life balance and excellent possibilities for professional growth.

 

Required skills

 

You have a master’s degree in law, with a specialisation in international human rights law.

You have the following background:

 

• Proficiency in international human rights law, with knowledge of international criminal law and international standards relevant to prevention and combating torture;
• A minimum of 10 years of experience of working in the field of international human rights promotion and protection, preferably with particular expertise in the anti-torture field, particularly from the developing countries or transitional societies.
• Experience of working within the criminal justice sector and/or international human rights organisations engaged in criminal justice sector reform in the field of human rights;

• Excellent analytical, legal drafting, training, networking and communication skills
• Strong skills in cross-professional/cross-cultural co-operation and public speaking.
• Fluency in written and oral English is a prerequisite. Competency in written and oral French and/or Arabic will be considered a key asset.

Personal attributes 

• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team across different cultures.
• Strategic thinker with strong organisational and inter-personal skills.
• Cultural sensitivity, high ethical standards and diplomatic skills.
• Energetic, creative, resourceful and collegial.
• Applicants must be willing to travel approximately 40-60 days annually.

 

Terms of employment

 

The position is located in DIGNITY's Legal Department with reference to the Director of the department. Your place of employment will be at Bryggervangen 55, 2100 Copenhagen Ø.

 

Your working hours are 37 hours per week.

 

The employment is based on the collective agreement for academics in the state (basic salary step or special consultant level depending on qualifications).

 

Expected start date is April 1, 2021 or as soon as possible thereafter.

 

Further information

 

Further information regarding the position can be obtained by contacting our Legal Director, Therese Rytter, on tel. +45 60 10 88 10, or by mail: tr@dignity.dk. 

 

Application with CV, diploma and references should be sent via the link and must be received by DIGNITY no later than Sunday, January 24, 2021 at 12 pm. Please note that since it is only possible to upload 2 files in the system, the diploma must be collected in the same document as either the CV or the application.

 

We expect to hold interviews on February 11, 2021. The interviews will be held online in English.

 

DIGNITY is a self-governing human rights, health and development organization. DIGNITY is engaged in rehabilitation of torture and trauma survivors, prevention and combating of torture, research in the aforementioned areas as well as national and international advocacy. We are engaged in twenty developing countries worldwide through partnerships with civil society organisations and state institutions. DIGNITY staff are members of the UN Committee against Torture (CAT), the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) and the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT). You can read more about our organization and work at www.dignity.dk. DIGNITY regards diversity as a strength and therefore encourages everyone qualified to apply for the position regardless of ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion or age.