CharityVillage

GENDER RIGHTS CAMPAIGNER

HOURS:         Full-time (37.5 hours/week)

DURATION:  One year contract

LOCATION: Ottawa or Toronto, Hybrid

SALARY:       $79,235.58 per annum

TRAVEL:        Hybrid work environment with occasional travel to the Ottawa or Toronto Office

UNION:           Unifor Local 567

DEADLINE:   Applications are accepted until 5pm (eastern time) June 13, 2025
 
SUMMARY:
 
As the Gender Rights Campaigner at Amnesty International Canada-English Speaking Section (AICES) you are stepping into a vital role at a transformative time. You will have the unique opportunity to shape our strategies, research, campaign and advocacy opportunities that drive substantial and meaningful change on women’s rights, gender rights, and the rights of 2SLGBTQQIA+ people with an intersectional lens including cross-sectional work in racial justice, the rights of Indigenous Peoples, climate justice, and the rights of people on the move.
 
Reporting to the Manager of Human Rights Law, Campaigns and Advocacy and part of the Policy, Advocacy and Research (PAR) team the role monitors the gender rights situation in Canada, develops strategy for the Section’s action and research for specific themes or geographic priorities. This role is expected to plan and implement research, advocacy and policy change related to intersectionality and gender justice and ensure the work on gender equality is integrated into the Section’s ant-racism and anti-oppression framework. In addition, this role will contribute to gender mainstreaming within the Section’s work and will be mindful and proactive in bringing in the intersectionality angle in our work.
 
WHAT YOU’LL DO

Community Engagement, Government Relations & Advocacy (30%)

• Build and maintain relationships with individual rights holders with lived experience and gender justice focused organizations from a gender rights, decolonial and anti-oppression lens, and thereby contributing to a connected Canadian human rights ecosystem.
• Support movement-building and actively engage in networks, organizations and coalitions that advocate for gender justice, prioritizing support for rightsholders-led grassroots activism.
• Lead AICES advocacy efforts surrounding gender justice and engage with government representatives, corporations, civil society organizations and grassroots activists, as well as collaborating with the Americas Regional Office to identify and promote connections with gender rights-based movements at a regional level.
• Monitor government activity to ensure that advocacy efforts are both timely and evidence-based including parliamentary debates, government statements, relevant parliamentary committees and media articles.
• Contribute to a government engagement strategy for the campaigns division, and participate in meetings with federal, provincial and territorial governments.
• Organize letter writing campaigns with the Activism Team targeting government officials and develop evidence-informed recommendations with policy makers.
• Serve as the primary resource and point of reference for gender justice information within AICES, and act as the spokesperson with media when necessary.
• Identify changes in relevant law and policy and provide the strategic and political analysis required to respond to various opportunities.
• Support the legal work of the PAR Team in preparing litigation and supporting strategic litigation initiatives relevant to gender rights.
• Ensure fundraising materials align with Amnesty’s policies and values, and engage with donors as needed to support the Fundraising Team’s efforts.

Campaign Strategy Development (30%)

• Develop and maintain relationships with individual rights holders and organizations to be an open listener on urgent human rights priorities in the area of gender justice and identify areas of solidarity for which AICES can engage in meaningful, relevant, decolonial campaigns that align with the lived experiences of rights-holders.
• Develop theories of change and campaign strategies, using a decolonial and intersectional gender rights lens and amplify and foreground the voices and advocacy messages of rights-holders. 
• Coordinate with the other PAR Team campaigners in an intersectional way to promote the mainstreaming of a decolonial and gender rights lens across all campaign portfolios including climate justice and corporate accountability; Indigenous rights; human rights defenders; racial justice; strategic litigation; and crisis and tactical campaigns.
• Organize events, convene and facilitate coalitions and networks on gender rights to build solidarity on shared advocacy messages and joint advocacy and mobilization activities.
• Provide guidance and updates on strategic priorities to AICES’ Specialized Teams on Gender Rights, grassroots organizers, members, and review/approve advocacy and campaigning proposals. 
• Contribute to strategies and operational plans that include the gender equality and environmental justice nexus.
• Collaborate with the mobilization and communications teams in developing social media posts, petitions delivered through email (e-actions), open letters, media articles, and blog posts, and contribute to newsletters, e-magazines and other public engagement assets that relate to a theory of change for campaigns.

Research (30%)

• Design and implement ethically responsible research focusing on specific gender rights to inform advocacy and campaign strategies, using intersectional analysis and participatory methods to ensure comprehensive and inclusive outcomes.
• Design and conduct primary research on specific cases in Canada in an intersectional manner to provide an evidence-base for the design of advocacy materials or activities.
• Engage in research design and implementation in coordination with other campaigners, Regional Office Researchers, Amnesty’s International Secretariat Researchers, or consultants, where applicable to promote gender rights through a decolonial lens.
• Develop content for AICES research publications, such as annual human rights reports for Canada.
• Monitor the rights of women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals in Canada, document human rights violations and prepare briefs and submissions to government, UN Special Rapporteurs, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and other human rights bodies.
• Monitor and evaluate outcomes and impact related to gender rights activities and outputs and contribute to regular team and Branch reports, as required.
• Advise on the inclusion of an intersectional gender analysis and the mainstreaming of women’s rights, gender rights and 2SLGBTQQIA+ rights in AICES campaigns and in other programs of the Section.
• Share knowledge and support capacity development in terms of gender mainstreaming, GBA+ analysis and gender-transformative and responsive approaches to campaigning.

Organizational Responsibilities (10%)

• Actively participate in regular organizational meetings and events to keep informed on developments, share insights, and stay updated on the work of other teams.
• As part of the PAR Team, prepare an annual draft operational plan and budget for the above-noted job functions. Regularly assess work and expenses against approved plans and budgets.
• Contribute to international solidarity by supporting the international movements in their work on gender rights, ensure alignment of AICES advocacy messages with Amnesty’s International Secretariat and Regional Office campaigns, and contribute to impact assessments and reporting.
• Ensure that anti-racism, anti-oppression, decolonial and diversity, equity and inclusion (ARAO-DEI) principles and practices are considered and integrated into Indigenous rights-related strategies and materials.
• Ensure that anti-racism, anti-oppression, decolonial and diversity, equity and inclusion (ARAO-DEI) principles are reflected in day-to-day interactions with colleagues, rightsholders, members, donors, and supporters.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR IN A CANDIDATE

Amnesty International Canada-English Speaking Section seeks a Gender Justice Campaigner that will bring a passion for justice, an innovative mindset, and a commitment to advocating for women’s rights, gender rights, and the rights of 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. The selected candidate is expected to embody and promote the organization’s values of respect, equity, and fairness, contributing to an inclusive, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive work environment at all times.
 
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (MUST HAVES):

Education:

•  Completed a bachelor’s degree and/or equivalent combination of education and experience in Gender Rights or a related field with significant gender rights content.

Experience:

• A minimum of 3 years of experience working in gender justice at a grassroots organization or an NGO with campaigning or advocacy focus OR university degree with some general or specialized background in human rights or gender rights with minimum 2 to 3 years of experience in a relevant position.
• Demonstrated experience working and/or studying gender rights and gender mainstreaming with an intersectional approach, particular attention to at least one of the following thematic areas: racial justice, climate justice, Indigenous People’s rights and/or the rights of people on the move.
• Desk research experience is required, and primary qualitative data collection is desirable.
• Demonstrable experience in writing statements, articles, reports, briefs, or correspondence related to gender rights.
• Experience in engaging and maintaining effective government relations is favourable.

Knowledge/Skills:

• An understanding of intersectionality as a principle and analytical method is a requirement.
• Understanding of trauma-informed, culturally relevant approaches to research and collaboration is required.
• Knowledge of the lived experiences and challenges facing women, gender diverse individuals and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people in Canada is required.
• Knowledge of the lived experiences of women, gender diverse individuals and LGTBQI+ people globally is an asset.
• An in-depth understanding of systemic oppression, decolonization and anti-oppression is a requirement.
• Knowledge of international human rights law and related international bodies, mechanisms and policies, and their application in Canada, particularly in the areas of gender rights, equality, and intersectionality as it relates to racial justice and the rights of Indigenous peoples is desirable.
• Knowledge of and relationships with Canadian civil society and social justice movements, networks, and stakeholders in the areas of gender rights is desirable.

Competencies/Personal Attributes:

• Analytical ability to monitor Canada’s laws and policies in relation to its’ international human rights commitments required.
• Ability to write accurate, compelling, and concise content in different formats for a variety of audiences is desirable.
• Excellent verbal communication skills necessary to act as a spokesperson for the Section as appropriate is required.
• Exceptional interpersonal, verbal and written communications skills in English.
• Available to travel within Canada and internationally, and work on evenings or weekends when required for specific campaign events or research activities required.

 DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ability to engage critically with theories, policies and practices related to international development and human rights from feminist, decolonial and anti-oppression lenses an asset.
• Experience conducting intersectional gender-based plus (GBA+) analysis is an asset.
• Ability to develop a theory of change and gender rights campaign strategy that centers the needs and rights of rights-holders an asset.
• Familiarity with the Canadian political system — notably the roles and interrelations of federal, provincial, and territorial governments — is considered an asset.

 WHY WORK FOR AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CANADA?
 
ABOUT US

Amnesty International is a movement of 10 million ordinary people in more than 150 countries who come together to achieve extraordinary results in defending and promoting human rights. We get discriminatory laws changed and prisoners of conscience released. We’ve helped stop torture, commute death sentences and worked to end violence against women. We are in solidarity with Indigenous peoples demanding that their rights be respected.
 
OUR COMMITMENT TO ANTI-RACISM, ANTI-OPPRESSION, DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION (ARAO-DEI)

Amnesty International Canada is committed to employment equity, actively seeks diversity in the workplace, and welcomes and encourages applications from members of equity seeking groups including women, transgender, non-binary, and LGBTI individuals; First Nations, Metis, and Inuit individuals, persons with disabilities, and members of racialized and marginalized groups. We believe our work is stronger when it benefits from the experience, knowledge and wisdom of people who have faced systemic barriers, and encourage applications from qualified candidates who have lived experience as a member of historically underrepresented communities. 
AIC values qualified diverse candidates who bring skills that contribute to our anti-racist and anti-oppression transformational journey. At AIC, employees are expected to contribute to an inclusive environment and bring the knowledge, experience, and ability to incorporate anti-racism, anti-oppression, intersectionality, gender mainstreaming, inclusion, and accessibility practices to external and internal work and to all interpersonal interactions. Click to learn more about our Equity Journey.
 
WHAT WE OFFER
 
At Amnesty International Canada, we are passionate about what we do, and we are proud of our achievements as a movement. To compensate our employees for the critical work they undertake, we reward them with an attractive, sector competitive salary and benefits package plus the opportunity to develop professionally.
 
If you are talented, passionate about human rights and want to use your skills, knowledge, and experience to change the world, we encourage you to join us.
 
APPLICATION PROCESS

Together with your resume, please forward a 1-page cover letter (250 words maximum) that includes your responses to the following questions: 

1. How do you relate to Amnesty International Canada’s mission?
2. How would your skills and experiences (personal and professional) translate into success in a campaigning role?
3. What does a commitment to ARAO and DEI mean or look like to you?

 
Applications must be submitted electronically through out Work With Us careers page.

We thank everyone for their expression of interest-and truly appreciative of the time individuals put into applying-but with the limitation of time only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Amnesty International Canada is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier free experience to applicants with accessibility needs. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage during the recruitment process