AIUSA Pakistan Specialist

Amnesty International USA seeks a volunteer Country Specialist to help monitor the human rights situation in Pakistan and support in mobilizing action to promote and protect human rights in that country. AIUSA’s Country Specialists serve as country experts and strategists and are part of a corps of volunteer leaders known as the Coordination Group program, which is organized by sub world region.

The Pakistan Country Specialist will join AIUSA’s South Asia Coordination Group (also known as Cogroup), which consists of skilled, dedicated specialists working closely with AI staff and others to advance human rights in the South Asia region. This volunteer position is an exciting opportunity to contribute your human rights passion and expertise while leveraging and expanding your skills. You’ll get training and support by AIUSA and be part of a community of activists advancing human rights in Pakistan.

As Pakistan Country Specialist, you’ll work with partners to:

• Routinely monitor the political and human rights situation in Pakistan with a solid understanding of AI’s policy and specific concerns pertaining to Pakistan.
• Develop and implement action strategies for Pakistan in coordination with Amnesty International’s researchers and campaigners around the world and AIUSA’s Advocacy Director for Europe and Central Asia.
• Provide general assistance, information, and actions to AIUSA members and activists seeking to work on issues related to human rights in Pakistan.
• Assist the organization in developing and maintaining contacts with counterparts in other human rights organizations, solidarity groups and other stakeholders.
• Collaborate with AIUSA Advocacy Directors on relevant aspects of AIUSA’s governmental advocacy work pertaining to Pakistan, i.e., potentially communicating with U.S. State Department contacts, U.S. embassies abroad, foreign embassies in Washington DC and consulates throughout the United States.
• In close coordination with the relevant AIUSA Advocacy Director, liaise with colleagues working on Pakistan at Amnesty’s International Secretariat and respond to and initiate media coverage on the relevant country or theme. This includes both domestic and international print, TV, radio, and digital outlets.
• Provide expert letters of support for Pakistan asylum seekers and occasionally testify at asylum hearings.
• Work with relevant staff to maintain/update country or thematic pages on AIUSA’s website and to create/publish online actions and blogs.
• Engage and work in partnership with Pakistan diaspora groups on AIUSA’s specific priorities.
• Support Amnesty International's work on Individuals at Risk casefile and urgent actions.

You're the ideal Pakistan Country Specialist candidate if you have these qualifications:

• Substantive knowledge of human rights issues and trends in Pakistan.
• Familiar with advocacy or research relating to the rights of civilians in conflict, women, peace & security, and/or minority rights.
• Experience with grassroots campaigning and/or Amnesty International.
• Familiarity with international human rights standards.
• Experience studying or supporting civil society, human rights, gender equality, LGBTI rights, or fundamental freedoms in Pakistan.
• Comfortable speaking out on human rights either on social media, in front of a public audience, by lobbying members of congress or through writing.
• Urdu or other regional languages.