Legal Aid & Human Rights Coordinator

Job ID/Title :Legal Aid & Human Rights Coordinator
Brand :UNDP
Application Deadline:26-Aug-15
Duty Station :Ramallah
Languages Required :Arabic, English,   
Duration of Initial Contract : 6 months with possible extension
Expected Duration of Assignment :    

Background:
UNDP/PAPP- is seeking a candidate to fill the position of Legal Aid & Human Rights Coordinator (MOJ), under the overall guidance of the team leader and Joint Programme Manager, and the direct supervision of UNDP RoL Programme Management Specialist. As this position is related to the programme, Strengthening the Rule of Law in the occupied Palestinian territory - Justice and Security for the Palestinian People (2014-2017) with an expected duration of until April 2017, the Service Contract extension will be conditioned to satisfactory performance evaluation as well as availability of funding under the project.
The MOJ leads policy development and reform of the justice sector to ensure the provision of public justice services capable of protecting human rights and providing ready access to justice for all community members, especially vulnerable groups and the poor. The Basic Law, as the de facto constitution, provides strong human rights protections for citizens in the justice sector. Accordingly, the role of the Ministry of Justice in providing access to justice and promoting and protecting human rights is crucial alongside the roles of the courts, the prosecution, police and the Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR).

The Ministry of Justice has an established Human Rights Unit, however it lacks clarity as to the precise scope of its mandate and lacks capacity to provide robust human rights advice and services to the MOJ and the Palestinian public. It currently investigates public human rights related complaints, provides some oversight of places of custody and detention, has input into human rights-related processes in the Ministry and the sector.
Since the State of Palestine’s accession to all the core human rights treaties including the ICCPR, CEDAW and the CRC, the MOJ now has additional responsibilities to fulfill in accordance with international as well as national human rights standards. These obligations relate not only to treaty reporting requirements, especially in relation to the ICCPR for which the MOJ is the appointed ministry lead, but also in relation to full implementation and institutionalisation of these standards in the MOJ’s daily functioning, review and amendment of national laws to ensure their consistency with treaty standards and its broader role in leading and monitoring the justice sector’s human rights compliance.

In addition, the Human Rights Unit will become the likely repository of the MOJ’s juvenile justice capabilities. These responsibilities would include inspection of places of child detention/custody, readiness for the introduction of a specialized Juvenile Protection Law, monitoring the use of the existing legal framework to maximize children’s rights and protection and provision of legal aid services for juveniles. While there is a separate Gender Unit in the Ministry of Justice, (which this Programme also supports through a separate coordinated intervention), the portfolio of Juvenile Justice would entail close functional and operational coordination with the Gender Unit.
Another key area of the MOJ’s mandate is in relation to access to justice. The Ministry of Justice has already previously provided leadership on the development of a plan for a national legal aid scheme. In 2013 it hosted the first National Legal Aid conference and also led a process in relation to drafting a Legal Aid Fund Law in consultation with other key institutional actors. One of the key recommendations arising from the inaugural conference was the establishment of a National Legal Aid Committee comprised of institutional and civil society experts to develop legal aid policy and instigate establishment of a national legal aid scheme coordinated with the Bar Association, prosecution, police, the courts and civil society legal aid providers (including universities). The Ministry has prioritised the development of legal aid services in its strategic plan and wishes to proceed with establishment of the Committee, development of a national legal aid policy and strategy, review the draft legal aid law and develop a supportive regulation/bylaw.
 
This assignment arises in the context of UNDP/UN Women Joint Programme, Strengthening the Rule of Law in the oPt: Justice and Security for the Palestinian People (2014-2017). The UNDP/UN Women Joint Programme is oriented around the following seven mutually reinforcing outcomes:
1-Capacity of justice and security institutions strengthened and linkages forged
2-Civil society contribution to rule of law and community access to justice in the West Bank enhanced
3-Civil society contribution to rule of law and community access to justice in the Gaza Strip enhanced
4.-Gender responsive ness of justice, security and legislative actors strengthened
5-Women and girls’ access to justice and security improved by ensuring accountable service provision to prevent, protect against and respond to violence, and by addressing their broader legal needs
6-Juvenile justice and adherence to child rights improved
7-Capacity of key actors and stakeholders to monitor progress and results in rule of law development increased
Against this background, the services of a qualified lawyer who is a human rights expert with a strong background in legal aid service provision and with some experience in public administration (ideally in the Palestinian justice sector) are required to work within the MOJ to develop the strategy and build the capacity of the existing Human Rights Unit vis-a-vis legal aid and human rights treaty implementation.

The Legal Aid & Human Rights Coordinator will be responsible for conducting an inclusive and comprehensive scoping of the MOJ’s human rights obligations and existing capacities, and to develop a proposed model for a Human Rights Unit.  This will include development of a recommended structure, TOR for the unit and for staff posts within the unit, operating procedure, training needs etc all harmonised with the existing and future work of the MOJ. The Legal Aid & Human Rights Coordinator will also be responsible for supporting the Human Rights Unit with technical advice in relation to reporting, monitoring and implementation of human rights treaties, and support the Unit in proceeding with establishment of the National Legal Aid Committee and other steps towards the implementation of a sustainable national legal aid scheme.
The development of the model must be undertaken with careful attention paid to national ownership, sustainability, absorption capacity and harmonisation with the human rights related work and capacities of the other key justice institutions, and the civil police.  The Legal Aid & Human Rights Coordinator will work alongside the current Head of the Human Rights Unit and in close coordination with the Minister and Deputy Ministers of Justice, the Planning Unit, the Gender Unit, the International Legal Cooperation Unit and the Legal Affairs Directorate. The incumbent will also support the Human Rights Unit to further strengthen its existing linkage and collaboration with the ICHR and civil society human rights organisations as well as other core justice institutions and the police.

The institutional development of the mandate and functions of the MOJ Human Rights Unit will also take into consideration relevant regional and other comparative models adopted in justice sectors’ elsewhere to ensure the model accords with best international practices.
 
Description of Responsibilities:
Under the supervision and guidance of the UNDP Programme Management Specialist and collaborating closely with the Minister and Deputy Ministers of Justice, the Head and other staff of the Human Rights Unit, and other staff and other relevant MOJ units and directorates, the Access to Justice & Human Rights Coordinator is expected to contribute to the sustainable development of the Human Rights Unit in the MOJ.
 
The overarching aim is to clarify the mandate of the Unit and develop its capacities to fulfil this to help the MOJ meet its existing obligations under international and domestic law especially in the areas of treaty reporting, monitoring and implementation, review and amendment of national legislation to achieve treaty compliance, support to legal aid and juvenile justice service policy development and service provision and to address public complaints of human rights violations in the justice sector. The key results expected of this assignment are:

-Mapping of MOJs human rights obligations and increased awareness of this throughout the MOJ taking into account gender and juvenile justice capacity needs, human rights and other treaty capacity needs, need for a credible public complaints system relating to human rights and fair trial standards, need for public access to a sustainable legal aid system.
-Work with HRU staff to develop a policy document articulating the mandate and strategy of the Human Rights Unit, taking into account regional and international best practice and seek its approval  by the Minister.
-Develop an integrated multi and single year development and work plan for the HRU inclusive of SMART indicators.
-Develop a draft TOR for the Unit, including assessment of the human resources needed to staff the Unit, development of TORs for unit posts, draft Standard Operating Procedure for the Unit
-Provide support to the HRU in establishing the National Legal Aid Committee including its TOR. Provide ongoing technical advice and assistance to the Committee.
-Ongoing provision of technical assistance and advice to members of the Unit through implementation of a coordinated work plan with MOJ counterpart/s to incrementally transfer knowledge and skills to them and closely track implementation of the capacity development plan.
-Work to ensure that the National Committee legal aid strategy includes protection of the right to access of justice for vulnerable groups, including women and children
-Support review of draft Legal Aid Law, development of supporting Regulation/bylaw through inclusive process involving civil society and institutional actors.
-Support the HRU Head to provide ongoing advice and regular updates to the Minister/Deputy Minister of Justice as to progress of the Unit.
-Support the HRU Head to build and maintain strong external and internal networks that could facilitate progress and coordination of human rights related activities between other justice institutions, the ICHR and with civil society organizations.
-Fully participate in the UNDP/UN Women Rule of Law Programme including in Programme justice sector coordination meetings, plenary team meetings, review and input of programme documents, regular reporting and other work or activities stemming from the programme, as requested.
 Impact of Results
-Human rights needs of MOJ assessed and plan for the development of a Human Rights Unit.
-Identification of human resource and capacity needs of Human Rights Unit
-Capacity of MOJ human rights unit counterparts strengthened to implement the work of the Human Rights Unit including coordination of implementation efforts across the MOJ and with other relevant institutions and civil society actors.
-National Legal Aid Committee established and national policy for legal aid developed.
-Increased permanent capacity built within the Human Rights Unit to sustain highly functional human rights capacities across areas of access to justice/legal aid, juvenile justice, human rights treaty monitoring, ICC implementation and human rights complaints/fair trial standards.
-Improved capacity to monitor human rights and provide reliable, measurable data on human rights standards implementation across the MOJ’s work.
-Improved knowledge of senior MOJ staff of MOJ treaty obligations and approaches to implementation and monitoring.
-Strengthened relations with other core justice institutions on human rights implementation.
-Improved communication and coordination within and between MOJ relevant directorates and units on relevant aspects of human rights treaty implementation, access to justice/legal aid, juvenile responsiveness, and other aspects of the Human Rights Unit’s mandate.
 
Competencies :

Competencies and Critical Success Factors
Corporate Competencies:
- Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
- Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
- Treats all people fairly without favoritism

Functional Competencies:
Knowledge Management and Learning
-Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example
-Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills
Development and Operational Effectiveness:
-Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and development monitoring in particular
-Knowledge of current development issues particularly those pertinent to

UNDP’s Practice Areas
- Ability to conceptualize issues and analyze data
- Ability to coordinate the work of others
- Ability to implement new systems, and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change

Management and Leadership:
-Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
-Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
-Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
-Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills
Qualifications :
 
Education:
-Minimum BA degree in law and/or public administration, with specialisation or extensive experience in human rights. MA could be considered and asset.

Experience:
-Minimum five years of experience in human rights related area.
-Previous experience in working in legal aid service provision
-Previous experience working in the public sector.
-Good knowledge of the Palestinian justice sector
-Good awareness and understanding of gender and juvenile justice issues and the obstacles related to access to justice for women and children.
-Proven mentoring and capacity development skills
-Excellent verbal and written communication skills
-Excellent diplomatic skills and sound judgment
-Excellent organizational and time management skills.
-Proven ability and experience of working in a team.

Language Requirements:
-Fluency in Arabic and English a requirement (written and spoken)
-Excellent drafting, writing and communication skills to a highly professional level
-Full computer literacy (and strong knowledge of various software including Excel, PowerPoint and Word.
 

 

طلب التوظيف

“UNDP/PAPP is an equal opportunity employer: applications from both internal and external men and women will be considered equally”


UNDP actively supports the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities adopted by the United Nations General Assembly


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