Institutionalization of Sheltering Services for Women in the

“MEHWAR CENTER FOR THE PROTECTION AND EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN AND FAMILIES”
Consultant on the

Location :occupied Palestinian territory (Jerusalem, with travel to other locations in the oPt)
Application Deadline :26/03/2012

Additional Category
Type of Contract :SSA
Languages Required :Arabic/English 
Starting Date :(date when the selected candidate is expected to start)
April 2012
Duration of Initial Contract : One month – possibility of extension


Background
In 2007, through a project funded by the Government of Italy, a pilot, national, specialized service "Mehwar Center for the protection and empowerment of women and families" was inaugurated. The Centre addresses the phenomenon of Violence Against Women (VAW) in a comprehensive way, working in parallel on the levels of prevention with the community, protection of women and children victims of violence through sheltering and specialized counseling services, and women victims' empowerment and qualified reintegration in the society. Mehwar Center, which operates under the umbrella of the Palestinian Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA), is the first anti-violence center in the occupied Palestinian territory adopting international human rights standards. The project is being currently executed by UN Women in partnership with MoSA, as institutional counterpart.
Starting from September 2011, a comprehensive analysis of the legal aspects and implications of the Mehwar Centre’s operation has been conducted in agreement with the Ministry of Social Affairs under the overall supervision of UN Women. This analysis has lead to the development of a proposed governance structure responsive to Mehwar vision and mission while safeguarding Mehwar professional independence. The proposed structure is currently under discussion. UN Women is committed to provide all necessary support to the Ministry of Social Affairs to accomplish the Mehwar Centre’s final legal status in the best interest of Mehwar beneficiaries, whose aspirations to live and shape their future in safety and dignity are at the core of the Mehwar Centre’s work.

Duties and Responsibilities
Under the overall supervision of UN WOMEN oPt Head of Office and the direct supervision of the Women Human Rights Unit (WHRU) Project Manager, UN WOMEN wishes to bring on board a Legal Governance Consultant, who will undertake the following duties and responsibilities related to the Mehwar Centre project:
1-Building on the reports of the legal consultant for Mehwar Governance structure and in line with the recommendations of the Ministry of Social Affairs, identify concrete and viable legal and institutional steps for the establishment of the Mehwar Center as a semi-governmental body;
2-To consult with and advice MoSA on steps to be undertaken from their side to define Mehwar Center as a semi-governmental body;
3-To consult with professionals involved in the development of Mehwar policies and procedures, ensuring alignment between the process of institutionalization of Mehwar governance and Mehwar policies and procedures; 
4-To consult with wide range of stakeholders involved in women’s protection, including governmental and non-governmental as well as consultants supporting national processes;
5-To consult with potential board members to gather feedback about criteria and mechanisms for the board’s functioning;
6-To draft, applying a fully participatory approach guided by UN Women, Mehwar Center’s by-laws defining and regulating the Center as a semi-governmental body while ensuring that the Center’s sustainability and quality standards are considered at the core of the by-laws;
7-To draft and include as annex to Mehwar Center’s by-laws an inception 6-month plan for the start up of the new governance structure and body;
8-To share initial draft of Mehwar Center’s by-laws with UN Women, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Mehwar Centre staff for feedback;
9-To address, into Mehwar by-laws, comments shared by UN Women and other partners, as discussed and agreed upon with UN Women;
10-To support UN Women in developing a plan for sensitizing the legal department of the Cabinet of Ministries about the on-going national process aimed to establish a national women’s protection system;
11-To offer legal backup to UN Women oPt team for approaching the legal department of the Cabinet of Ministries;
12-To support UN Women in advocating with the Cabinet of Ministries to endorse Mehwar Center’s by-laws as well as the national law regulating semi-governmental bodies;
13-To liaise between UN Women, MoSA and the legal department of the Cabinet of Ministries for coordination and cooperation with regard to women’s protection legal/policy issues;
14-To offer backstopping to the Mehwar Centre team and to MoSA relevant cadres to ensure proper understanding of the new Center’s by-laws, writing, where necessary, related procedures.
15-To acquire and review from a legal perspective findings and recommendations contained in the “Mehwar Centre evaluation of policies and procedures” report (2011) with regard to legal aid and legal representation provided by the Mehwar Centre.
16-To consult with Mehwar legal team, as well as Mehwar management and shelter teams, to verify/identify upgrading needs of Mehwar internal guidelines and procedures for the provision of legal aid and legal representation to women victims of violence and families in distress.
17-To consult with relevant stakeholders involved in the justice chain and regularly cooperating with the Mehwar Centre (Police, Prosecutors, Judges) to verify/identify best practices as well as gaps and shortfalls with regards to ensuring women victims of violence the enjoyment of legal rights;
18-To review Mehwar Centre forms and formats currently in use in the legal department, and note amendments for improving them.
19-To draft outlines of Mehwar Center’s practice and policy guidelines for the provision of legal aid and legal representation.
20-To share draft outlines with UN Women, MoSA and the Mehwar team for feedback.
21-To finalize outlines of Mehwar Center’s practice and policy guidelines for the provision of legal aid and legal representation, addressing UN Women and partners’ comments, as agreed with UN Women.
22-Develop initial draft of Mehwar Center’s practice and policy guidelines related to the provision of legal aid and legal representation (including legal aid related forms and formats).
23-To share draft Mehwar practice and policy guidelines for legal aid and representation with UN Women, MoSA and the Mehwar team for feedback.
24-To finalize Mehwar Center’s practice and policy guidelines for the provision of legal aid and legal representation, addressing UN Women and partners’ comments, as agreed with UN Women.
 
Deliverables:
1-Final draft of outlines for Mehwar Center’s practice and policy guidelines related to the provision of legal aid and legal representation, addressing UN Women comments and other partner’s comments, as agreed upon with UN Women.
2-Final draft of Mehwar Center by-laws, addressing UN Women comments and other partner’s comments, as agreed upon with UN Women.
3-First draft of Mehwar Center’s practice and policy guidelines for the provision of legal aid and legal representation (including legal aid forms);
4-Final draft of Mehwar Center’s practice and policy guidelines for the provision of legal aid and legal representation addressing UN Women comments and other partner’s comments, as agreed upon with UN Women.
 
 
Qualifications and Experience
-University degree in Law.
-Senior experience in legal organizational analysis and legal profession;
-At least 3 years’ experience on VAW issues;
-Sound knowledge and understanding of the Palestinian context, particularly of the existing legal and judiciary system;
-Understanding of and ability to apply a gender sensitive approach;
-Knowledge of international Human Rights standards, with particular reference to women's rights and protection;
-Computer literacy;
-Excellent written and spoken Arabic; English will be considered an asset.

Corporate Competencies
-Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN's values and ethical standards;
-Promotes the vision and mission of UN Women;
-Treats all people fairly without favoritism.
 
Other Skills
-Strong motivation to work in the field of promoting women human rights, deep understanding of women's environments and needs;
-Propensity and ability to team-work in the sense of:
-Sharing information
-Developing joint analysis and apply a participatory approach
-Being capable to best use each partner’s professionalism and experience for drafting a sustainable governance structure of Mehwar and mechanisms of implementation
-Strong diplomatic and communication skills;
-Ability to elaborate and finalize innovative legal practices to best serve women's needs;
-Professionalism and flexibility.

Submission of application:

Interested candidates must submit up to date comprehensive curriculum vitae via email to
 

or via fax 02 6280661 to UN Women, subject “Institutionalization of Sheltering Services for Women, Consultant”, by 26 March, 2012.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.