Advocacy Specialist: Treaty Bodies

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ILGA World

  • Career category: Advocacy/ Policy
  • Job type: Job
  • Experience level: 2-5 years
  • Organisation type: Civil Society
  • Remote option: No
  • Right to work requirements: Not specified
  • Remuneration: Remuneration not disclosed
  • Work schedule: Full-time
  • Length of contract: Not specified
  • Deadline: 10/11/2026
  • Location: Switzerland
Human rights LGBTQI+ rights/ SOGIESC
ILGA World is seeking an Advocacy Specialist on Treaty Bodies, who will work as part of our advocacy programme and coordinate the organisation’s day-to-day engagement with the United Nations human rights treaty body system.

Background: the ILGA World advocacy programme
Advocacy has been a cornerstone of ILGA World’s work since its inception and remains central to its 2025–2029 Strategic Plan. In 2025, ILGA World formally merged its UN and GIESC (Gender Identity, Gender Expression, and Sex Characteristics) programmes into a unified advocacy programme. This integrated approach reflects ILGA World’s commitment to intersectional, inclusive, and movement-informed advocacy at global, regional, and national levels.

The advocacy programme champions the rights of people with diverse SOGIESC by engaging with multilateral institutions, supporting national and regional efforts, and co-leading coalition-based campaigns. Over the years, ILGA World has shaped and led advocacy in key international spaces such as the UN Human Rights Council, Treaty Bodies, Special Procedures, the Commission on the Status of Women, and the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. It has hosted and co-hosted pivotal events including UPR and Trans Advocacy Weeks, Intersex Advocacy Week, and engagements within the Equal Rights Coalition.

In response to escalating backlash against LGBTI rights, the advocacy programme has deepened its engagement with feminist and cross-movement spaces. It actively supports human rights defenders and facilitates their participation in advocacy spaces.

Requirements
Education and qualifications
  • A master’s university degree or equivalent in international human rights law, law, political science, international relations or a related field, combined with 6 years of relevant work experience
 
Experience
  • A minimum of 4 years of relevant experience in human rights advocacy, policy or legal work, preferably within an international, regional or national civil society organisation, multilateral institution or similar setting.
  • At least 2 years of direct engagement with United Nations human rights mechanisms, including substantive experience working with one or more UN Treaty Bodies.
  • Experience developing and implementing advocacy strategies relating to Treaty Body country reviews, normative development or other treaty body procedures.
  • Experience drafting shadow reports, written submissions, briefing materials, statements, position papers or other advocacy documentation for international human rights mechanisms.
  • Experience providing technical assistance, guidance or capacity strengthening to civil society organisations and human rights defenders engaging with international human rights mechanisms.
  • Experience analysing international human rights standards, concluding observations, recommendations and/or jurisprudence and translating complex legal developments into accessible advocacy guidance.
  • Experience with or strong familiarity with strategic litigation, individual communications or other forms of legal advocacy before international or regional human rights mechanisms.
  • Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with grassroots organisations, LGBTI human rights defenders and diverse stakeholders across different national, cultural and political contexts.
  • Experience in project coordination, including planning, monitoring, evaluation, learning and narrative reporting, including in donor-funded work.
  • Experience building and maintaining working relationships with UN officials and experts, civil society organisations, legal practitioners, academic partners and other relevant stakeholders.

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