Would you like to work in a unique international human rights, health and development organization? And are you a talented and passionate lawyer with experience from the fields of human rights advocacy as well as prevention, documentation and investigation of torture, and finally in achieving justice and redress?

DIGNITY - Danish Institute Against Torture offers two positions as Legal Advisor, one permanent and the other temporary (3 years with possibility for extension), in the 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, documentation and rehabilitation worldwide.

DIGNITY’s Legal Department has six international lawyers, two law students, and interns. Our engagements span from documentation and investigation of torture, pursuing justice and redress, preventive monitoring of places of detention, and national and international advocacy in partnership with human rights organization in the global south, to legal reform and cooperation with criminal justice institutions. 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 positions

Both legal advisors will:

  • Contribute to the development of DIGNITY’s strategies, programmes, projects and methodologies on preventing and combating torture, including SGBV, and the use of pre-trial detention and non-custodial measures, reflecting international standards and best practices.
  • Conduct legal research and analysis and draft legally oriented memorandums, reports and articles within DIGNITY’s mandate, and overall generation and dissemination of knowledge.

Legal Advisor (permanent)

· Lead DIGNITY’s international advocacy on preventing and combating torture and other forms of violence, and on redress and rehabilitation of torture survivors, and work closely with partners in the global South to achieve these aims at national and international level.

  • Provide legal advice and build capacity among DIGNITY’s civil society partners on prevention, documentation and investigation of torture, and on pursuing justice and redress for survivors.
  • Engage in and promote legal and policy reform in the aforementioned areas.

Legal Advisor (3 years)

· Lead DIGNITY’s 3-year project ‘Global UN campaign against prison overcrowding with a view to preventing torture and inhuman ill-treatment’, promoting non-custodial alternatives to the deprivation of liberty in ten countries worldwide.

  • Provide legal advice and build capacity among human rights organizations and National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs) in preventing torture and monitoring places of detention.
  • Contribute to national and international advocacy in the aforementioned areas.

The Legal Advisors refers to our Legal Director**.**

We offer you:

  • A chance to contribute to preventing and combating torture and pursuing justice and redress.
  • 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:

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 and context sensitivity, high ethical standards and diplomatic skills.
  • Energetic, creative, resourceful and collegial.
  • Applicants must be willing to travel approximately 40-50 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.

Your working hours are 37 hours per week.

The employment is based on the collective agreement for academics in the state (basic salary step level).

Expected start date 1 September 2021 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Further information

Further information regarding the positions 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 8 August 2021. 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 August 18 and 20 2021. The interviews will be held online (Teams) in English. We also expect to hold a second interview round comprising a small task to be prepared prior to the interview. This round will take place on August 26.

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.

This vacancy is archived.

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