About Center for Justice (CJ)

Centre for Justice (CJ) is one of Ethiopia’s main independent civil society organizations working for systemic and service changes of the Ethiopian Criminal Justice System. Its establishment was spearheaded by individuals who sought to improve things they came across during their incarceration.

CJ blends practical interventions and advocacy campaigns to improve the criminal justice system in general and the condition of inmates in Ethiopia in particular. It stands for human rights and works for their protection and realization through a mix of practical interventions and advocacy works that improve conditions for inmates both at the systemic and service levels at the national and prison levels. Our fundamental task as an organization is to effect progressive change in the Ethiopian Criminal Justice System. We work for people who are serving prison terms in the Ethiopian prisons and people who go through the Ethiopian Criminal Justice System. We give a special attention for the most vulnerable people like women prisoners, children living with their incarcerated parents or primary care givers, persons with disabilities and juveniles. We are campaigners, change makers and practitioners. We are experts who influence policy and practice around the Ethiopian Criminal Justice System and implementers of interventions that improve conditions for inmates and people who go through the criminal justice system. We promote, publicize, and implement international human rights standards and rules that protect the rights of people who go through the Ethiopian Criminal Justice System.

THE VISION, MISSION& PROGRAMS  

Vision    

To see safe society where criminal justice system upholds human rights for all and prison is used as a   last resort

Mission: 

To promote a progressive criminal justice system that upholds rule of law, human rights, gender equality, prioritizes alternatives to prison, champions’ crime prevention and prisoner rehabilitation and reintegration through research, service provision, community engagement, collaboration and innovation, capacity development and policy advocacy

Programs

CJ works under the following pillars of the Strategic Framework 2025-2029:

• Human Rights in Practice.
• Rehabilitation, Reintegration and Empowerment of Inmates.
• Non-custodial alternatives to imprisonment
• Capacity building for better management of prisons
• Gender equality in criminal justice institutions
• Networking, collaboration and partnership with a diverse range of stakeholders working in Criminal Justice System

Job Description

Purpose of the Job

To coordinate the day-to-day implementation of research, advocacy and campaign plans and prison basic service improvement to enhance the promotion and protection of prisoners’ rights in Ethiopia

Main Duties and Responsibilities 

• Develop plan of the function on promotion and protection of prisoners’ rights
• Conduct awareness raising and campaigns on prisoners’ rights to ensure adherence to national and international protection standards and guidelines
• Conduct or support the undertaking of research and analysis to formulate advocacy briefs and calls for the promotion and protection of the prisoners’ rights
• Actively contribute to the execution of legislative and policy initiatives regarding prisoners’ rights
• Conduct legal review in relation to prisoners’ rights to write advocacy and campaign messages and materials for amendment or enactment of laws that afford better protection to the rights of prisoners as well as to ensure their compliance with constitutional, international and regional human rights standards
• Organize and manage advocacy and campaign events
• Support the initiation of nationwide movements to advocate and campaign for the promotion and protection of prisoners’ rights, including the ratification and implementation of relevant international and regional human rights standards
• Undertake other duties and tasks deemed necessary

Salary:  Negotiable

About You

Education:  MA in Human Rights Law, LLM in Human Rights, LLM in international law, LLM in Law, and LLB in Law at least 3 years of experience on human rights work.

Job Requirements

• Proficiency in written and spoken English required. Proficiency in other local languages is preferred.
• Willingness and ability to travel in Ethiopia.
• Ability to work under pressure and effectively manage multiple tasks.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Exhibits strong organizational skills.
• Communicates clearly, politely, and effectively
• Demonstrates excellent time-management skills