SweFOR calls for specialist position in advocacy and strategic communication for the protection of human rights defenders in Mexico

Peace observers interview a representative of Las Abejas de Acteal, Chiapas, Mexico. Photo: SweFOR Mexico 2021

Background

The Swedish Fellowship of Reconciliation (SweFOR) is an ecumenical Swedish nonviolence movement, founded in 1919, that works for peace and justice. SweFOR’s work seeks to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence in the world by promoting a peaceful approach to conflict resolution and respect for human rights and international humanitarian law.

In the Peace Service and International Accompaniment program we work for the protection and expansion of spaces of action for human rights defenders in three countries in Latin America: Colombia, Guatemala and Mexico (Chiapas). Our main method of work is comprehensive accompaniment, consisting of preventive presence through physical accompaniment, advocacy towards the subjects of legal and moral duties, strategic communication and strengthening the capacities of the accompanied organizations in non-violent and differentiated self-protection. Due to the nature of our mandate, it is important that the personnel we employ are not citizens of the project country.

We have been working for more than 20 years in the state of Chiapas accompanying defenders who work for peacebuilding and are at risk, in order to expand their sphere of action and increase their level of protection. Since 2015 we have had an office in San Cristobal de las Casas and, as of 2018, the SweFOR Mexico team grew as we hired specialized staff to provide strengthening workshops in non-violent and differentiated self-protection. In this occasion we will again expand and professionalize the team through the recruitment of a specialist in advocacy and strategic communication with the aim of enhancing the profile, security and legitimacy of the human rights defenders we accompany.

Tasks and responsibilities

Operational responsibility for advocacy tasks that will allow us to enhance the profile, security and legitimacy of the human rights defenders we accompany:

• Develop and execute an advocacy strategy that raises the profile of SweFOR, provides protection and expands the space of action of human rights defenders, as well as advocate for public policies related to the protection of human rights defenders.
• Develop and maintain local, national and international support networks. This includes holding periodic meetings with entities of legal and moral responsibility, as well as trips to the field and to CDMX.
• Maintain regular contact with accompanied organizations and individuals to update them on processes and needs. This may include field trips if necessary.
• Be in charge of planning, execution, follow-up and reporting on advocacy work.

Operational responsibility for strategic communication tasks in order to enhance the profile, security and legitimacy of the human rights defenders we accompany:

• Development and implementation of a communication strategy that raises SweFOR Mexico’s profile and provides protection to defenders.
• Contact with national and international press to keep strategic issues on the media agenda.
• Responsible for planning, implementing, monitoring and reporting on strategic communications work.

Responsibility for tasks related to international accompaniment:

• Work together with SweFOR Mexico coordination and team to ensure that protection tools are integrated in a holistic manner.
• Answering the SweFOR Mexico hotline according to needs.
• Collaborate in emergency management.
• Providing advocacy and strategic communication training to SweFOR Mexico staff.
• Conduct workshops for accompanied organizations and individuals on the elaboration and implementation of advocacy and strategic communication strategies.

Required qualifications

• Education in the fields of politics and/or social sciences (Political Science, Law, International Relations, etc.).
• At least 3 years of experience in equivalent positions. Strategic networking skills, ability to generate synergies with other organizations and strategic communication are especially important.
• Knowledge of international and regional human rights instruments, as well as the mechanisms of protection of human rights defenders (national and international).
• Experienced in working with human rights defenders and a strong sensitivity and commitment to the situation they face.
• Experienced in working in multicultural teams.
• Flexible working hours and availability for travel to the field and CDMX.
• Spoken and written languages: C1 level of Spanish, ideally native. C1 level of English, professional level.
• Share SweFOR’s values of peace, justice and a violence-free society.
• Due to the nature, mandate and focus of the work, only candidates who are not Mexican nationals will be considered.

Desirable requirements

• Good knowledge and understanding of the political, social and cultural context of Mexico, as well as the main entities with legal and moral duties.
• Good knowledge of the method of international accompaniment and the SweFOR project in Mexico.
• Good skills in design, graphic editing and video programs.

Selection process and contract time frame

The timetable for the recruitment process will be as follows:

March 13, 2022: closing of the call for applications.
March 21, 2022: an anonymous written test will be conducted to assess the abilities of certain pre-selected individuals.
End of March 2022: an interview will be conducted and a person will be selected for the position.
May 1, 2022: commencement of the assignment in San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico.

The contract is full time and with a duration of one year, which can be extended.

Submitting your application

Please send your application consisting of a motivational letter and your CV -including 3 work and personal references to: valentina.auletta@swefor.org no later than March 13, 2022 at 00.00 Mexican time.

In the event of any questions about the position, please contact SweFOR’s Mexico Coordinator, Valentina Auletta, at valentina.auletta@swefor.org.

In case we do not find a person with the desired profile and in line with the needs of the project, the call for applications will be launched again.