Policy and Campaigns Officer

About Reprieve

Reprieve is a UK charity founded in 1999. Reprieve uses strategic interventions to end the use of the death penalty globally, and to end extreme human rights abuses carried out in the name of “counterterrorism” or “national security”.

 Reprieve works with the most disenfranchised people in society, as it is in their cases that human rights are most swiftly jettisoned and the rule of law is cast aside. Thus, Reprieve promotes and protects the rights of those facing the death penalty and those who are the victims of extreme human rights abuses carried out in the name of “counterterrorism” or “national security”, with a focus on arbitrary detention, torture, and extrajudicial executions.

 Reprieve’s main office is in London, UK. Reprieve also supports full-time Fellows, who work as lawyers, investigators and campaigners in the countries in which we work. We work closely with a number of partner organisations in jurisdictions all over the world, who provide access to clients, expertise, knowledge and guidance on specific issues or regions. We work in cooperation with relevant government officials, individual lawyers and human rights defenders, as well as individual, corporate and foundation funders to further the cause of our shared goals.

About the role

The Unlawful Detentions Teams Caseworker will undertake a range of casework activities in support of Reprieve’s work on cases of unlawful detention, which comprises our work on detention cases in North East Syria (NES) and Iraq, and our Guantánamo and Life after Guantánamo Projects.

There are currently thousands of people indefinitely detained in camps and prisons in NES, in conditions the UN has found to be inhumane and degrading. Reprieve aims to ensure that individuals detained in Syria and Iraq are treated in line with international law, and not subjected to the death penalty, extrajudicial execution, arbitrary detention, torture or rendition. Where possible, we advocate for the release and repatriation of foreign nationals detained in NES, many of whom are victims of trafficking and / or minors. We also advocate for and support clients and their children after their release from arbitrary detention.

Through our work we also aim to challenge and change flawed ‘war on terror’ narratives and legal and political frameworks – including in the UK, Europe and the US – that engender state-sanctioned discrimination and abuse and undermine the rule of law and human rights and sometimes create two-tiered layers of citizenship rights for ethnic minorities in Western countries. For example, the British people detained in NES are often arbitrarily deprived of their citizenship, under powers that are used almost exclusively against Muslims, mainly of South Asian, Middle Eastern, and African heritage. This is done in an attempt to place them outside the reach of the law, and to avoid giving them the consular and legal protections to which they are entitled as citizens.

Reprieve was one of the very first organisations allowed inside Guantánamo. Since then, we have secured freedom for more than 80 men illegally detained without charge or trial – more than any other organisation. Our unique Life after Guantánamo (LAG) project gives vital support to former detainees and their families all over the world once they have been released by facilitating access to a range of multidisciplinary services to help each former detainee get back on his feet.

 There may also be opportunities for the successful candidate to work across other areas of Reprieve’s work in due course, including helping our Extrajudicial Executions team which investigates and pursues redress in cases of individuals targeted for extrajudicial execution by, or with the support of the US, UK, and European governments.

Contract and salary

This role is a full-time, permanent contract based in our London office. The annual salary is £40,964 full-time per annum, less any required deductions for income tax and national insurance.

Reprieve operates a hybrid working model and we require staff to work a minimum of 40% per week from the London office, and the rest from home. Your presence is important during core office hours, whether remotely or in the office.

Applicants must have the current right to work in the UK. 

Further details and information on how to apply

For full information including a person specification please see the job descrption. The deadline for applications is Sunday 17 March.