GENDER AND WOMENS RIGHTS CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR

GENDER AND WOMEN’S RIGHTS CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR LAWYERS, INTERNATIONAL LEGAL CONSULTANT

Location : Occupied Palestinian territory (Jerusalem and Ramallah, with travel to other locations in the West Bank)

Application Deadline : 13-December-2011

Additional Category :Women’s Access to Justice

Type of Contract :SSA

Post Level : International Consultant

Languages Required : English
 
Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start): December 2011

Duration of Initial Contract :5 months

Expected Duration of Assignment :5 months
 
Background
UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. Placing women's rights at the centre of all its efforts, UN Women will lead and coordinate United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It will provide strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States' priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.
In light of the current normative and judicial systems and accountability gaps and as indicated in the Palestinian Justice and Rule of Law Strategy 2011-2013; with regard to women's protection from violence and remedial actions for victims of VAW, the framework of DFID-funded project "SUPPORT FOR DELIVERY OF SECURITY AND JUSTICE SERVICES FOR WOMEN VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE” works within strategic sectors and professional categories - including lawyers as well as Judges, prosecutors and civil police - to set up policies and skills that will increase respect for the rule of law and women's human rights, in accordance with international customary law principles and norms, with principles and norms embodied in CEDAW and in other international conventions, as well as in the Palestinian Basic Law, including the principle of fair trail free from gender biases. Within this framework and in the spirit of combating VAW, the capacity of a selected group of lawyers will be developed to receive and legally represent women victims of violence, (including victims of GBV who are themselves charged with crimes), through the use of national and international instruments, including CEDAW, and/or to provide them with legal aid, in the respect of ethical principles.

Duties and Responsibilities
The “Consultant for the development of a training programme for lawyers” will be consulting in full cooperation with a number of local consultants forming a team of experts for the development of the training programme of PBA lawyers. The team will work under the overall supervision of UN Women oPt Head of Office and the direct supervision of the Women Human Rights Unit Project Manager, in close partnership and daily consultation and coordination with PBA coordinator and related staff assigned by PBA, as well as in consultation with lawyers.  The consultants will report regularly to UN Women and to PBA Coordinator.
 
The main objective of the assignment is to develop a gender sensitive training programme, material and manual for the selected PBA lawyers to strengthen their capacity to effectively respond to gender-based violence in line with applicable legislation and international standards. The work of the consultant for the development of a training programme for PBA lawyers will be closely inter-related with the work being conducted by the other consultants brought on board under the same project, as well as with the work of the Police Training Academy. The consultant for the development of a training programme for lawyers will be in charge of 1. Identifying training needs for Lawyers in light of the VAW and International Human rights Standards 2.  Developing a manual for legal practitioners for assisting victims of GBV to be used as a key material in the training programme, and as an ongoing resource for lawyers. 3. Supporting and supervising implementation of training programme and ongoing lawyers’ casework network.
The international consultant will undertake the following tasks, duties and responsibilities:

-Work in full cooperation and coordination with PBA, and particularly the  PBA project coordinator and the local experts who will be identified, as well as the UN Women, Women Human Rights Unit team;  
-Organize and draft work plan to be submitted to UN Women;
-Support the PBA in identifying team of local experts for the development of a capacity development programme for lawyers;
-Support the PBA and the consultants recruited by the PBA in identifying topics and material for the development of the orientation sessions for the selection of lawyers to be included in the capacity development programme; In particular to jointly develop an agenda, an introductory session on the purpose of the network, an overview analysis of the gaps between relevant international standards and the existing national legislative framework in relation to the criminal and civil justice systems’ handling of sexual offences and violence against women, and the material for the orientation sessions;
-Support the PBA in implementing the orientation sessions;
-Support the PBA in identifying capacity development specifications for the capacity development / specialization of lawyers in dealing with cases of VAW; 
-Regularly meet with UN Women and PBA Coordinator to update on progresses and challenges of the assignment;
-Gather from partners, particularly from PBA, all available material and information related to past and current training for PBA lawyers; 
-Conduct research and a desk review of existing training manuals, curricula – including the PBA training Committee - and materials as well as the existing legislative framework regarding sexual offences and violence against women and children in the oPt, as well as on interpretation of existing legal framework in light of international law;
-Identify gaps between relevant international standards and the existing national legislative framework in relation to legal representation in cases concerning violence against women and children.
-Conduct an analysis of how international standards could be used to interpret national laws, most especially the penal procedure law and penal code, in a way consistent with international standards;
-Ensure full involvement of PBA in the development of the capacity development programme;
-Adopt a participatory approach with key stakeholders, during all phases of the consultancy work, ensuring ownership of the process as well as of the final deliverables;    
-Gather feedback on the finalized programme in order to proceed with, as following step, development of the material / manual; 
-Support the team of consultants in the development of a “step-by-step” guide/reference manual  which will both serve as a key learning material for the training programme, and provide a valuable resource for lawyers to use in their daily practice in assisting and representing victims of GBV. The manual should address both theoretical and practical/skill-based aspects of representing victims of GBV including where victims are themselves in conflict with the law. The manual should include summaries of key relevant international standards, national laws (both criminal and civil), an analysis of gaps between international and national standards, and how lawyers can use both national and international standards to achieve more  progressive interpretations of existing national laws, professional ethics, how lawyers should relate with informal justice systems in dealing with GBV cases and instruction in providing robust legal defense to victims who are accused of crimes. The manual should also address practical ”lawyering” skills such as conducting interviews, taking instructions, maintaining a professional file, making consent-based referrals, keeping clients informed of the progress on their cases, liaising with prosecutors, supporting their clients during medical procedures, prosecutorial interviews and court proceedings, and building their court representation and advocacy skills for assisting victims of GBV and representing GBV victims who are in conflict with the law. The manual should provide checklists and other tools that lawyers can easily use and integrate into their legal practice;
-Present finalized training needs assessment to UN Women, PBA and local experts; gather feedback and finalize the assessment report, which will become the reference document for the development of a gender sensitive PBA lawyers training programme and related material;
-Develop, in light of the finalized needs assessment, gender sensitive training programme for PBA lawyers and present the programme to UN Women, PBA and local experts; include in the programme indication about availability / non-availability of local expertise;
-Support PBA consultants in the development of the material for the capacity development programme;
-Provide substantive and technical direction to the use of the training material / manual;
-Establish an ongoing roundtable forum for lawyers to regularly bring their cases of GBV or GBV victims who are in conflict with the law for discussion (without breaching client confidentiality), so that lawyers can help each other in devising the best strategies or arguments to support their clients’ cases. Over time, the accumulated knowledge of this forum could be used to develop best practice guidelines for representing victims of GBV, solidly grounded in the practical experience of lawyers in the field.
-Provide interim and final reports including recommendations for further training needs of lawyers. 

 
Time frame:
The assignment is expected to start in December  2011 and to be finalized by 31 May 2012.
 
Key deliverables
1-Work-plan, upon start-up of the assignment
2-Material for the orientation sessions 
3-Lawyers’ Guide / Reference Manual
4-Capacity development programme
5-Support PBA consultants in the development of the material for the capacity development programme; 
 
 Competencies
CORE VALUES / GUIDING PRINCIPLES:

Integrity: Demonstrating consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct;
Cultural Sensitivity/Valuing diversity: Demonstrating an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff. Demonstrating an international outlook, appreciating differences in values and learning from cultural diversity.

CORE COMPETENCIES:
-Ethics and Values: Demonstrating / Safeguarding Ethics and Integrity;
-Organizational Awareness: Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
-Developing and Empowering People / Coaching and Mentoring: Initiative-taking; coaching and mentoring ability;
-Working in Teams: Acting as a team player and facilitating team work;
-Communicating Information and Ideas: Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
-Self-management and Emotional intelligence: Creating synergies through self-control.
-Conflict Management / Negotiating and Resolving Disagreements: Managing conflict;
-Knowledge Sharing / Continuous Learning: Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of other.
 
FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES:

-Substantial previous experience in design and development of gender-sensitive training manual, curricula and material within the legal sector;
-Demonstrated experience in developing and managing capacity development programmes for professionals within the Justice/ legal sector;
-Understanding and experience of legal Sector Reform, including in the context of conflict and post conflict situation;
-Sound understanding of issues related to development in crisis and post-crisis situations;
-Demonstrated strong, coordination and facilitation skills;
-Strong communication skills in English (oral and written);
-Results oriented, flexible and problem solving skills. 

Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Advanced University Degree in law.
Experience:

-At least 7 years of relevant professional experience in the legal sector;
-Extensive professional experience of  prosecution of cases of sexual and gender based violence and crimes against vulnerable groups;
-Extensive professional experience in the area of capacity development of professionals within legal sector, with particular reference to lawyers, on issues of sexual and gender based violence, including in international settings;
-Proven and extensive experience in the development of gender-sensitive capacity development curricula and materials;
-Ability to interact with governmental agencies, good interpersonal skills and organizational proficiency;
-Knowledge of the Security Sector in the occupied Palestinian territory will be an added advantage;
-Experience with UN Agencies on security sector will be an advantage.

Language Requirements:
-Very good communication and drafting skills and fluent in English (comprehension, written, and spoken).
-Communication skills in Arabic will be an added advantage. 
 
Submission of application:
Interested candidates must submit application, including complete and up to date CV, as per deadline indicated, to the following email [email protected] , indicating in the subject line: GENDER AND WOMEN’S RIGHTS CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR LAWYERS, INTERNATIONAL LEGAL CONSULTANT

UN Women will only be able to respond to those applications in which there is further interest.