UNDP | Human Rights Coordinator

Human Rights Coordinator - Ramallah

Application Type : External Vacancy
Job ID/Title :     882 - Human Rights Coordinator
Category : Governance and Poverty Reduction
Application Deadline :     02-May-16
Duty Station :     Ramallah
Languages Required :Arabic, English,
Duration of Initial Contract :     One Year
    

Background:
The Attorney General’s Office/Public Prosecution Service (AGO/PPS) of the State of Palestine has the exclusive authority to file and initiate criminal action and jurisdiction during the investigation procedures. This includes powers to arrest individuals, seize property, question suspects, interview witnesses, issue warrants and represent public rights and individual victims before the courts and throughout the trial process. Given the AGO/PPS’s coercive powers, the role of the public prosecution to protect human rights throughout the legal process is a fundamental core responsibility of the AGO/PPS and of the State. The Basic Law as the de facto constitution, provides strong human rights protections, several for which the AGO/PPS is entrusted to be the guardian, especially in relation to fair trial standards. The Public Prosecution supervises the implementation of the Penal Code in accordance with the procedures stipulated in the Criminal Procedure Code which is one of the most important national human rights laws, particularly in its guarantees of fair trial. Accordingly, the role of the Public Prosecution Services in promoting and protecting human rights is crucial alongside the roles of the courts and the Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR).
 
The State of Palestine’s recent accession to all the core human rights treaties including the ICCPR, CEDAW and the CRC creates an additional layer of responsibilities upon the AGO/PPS to ensure that it has the capacity to fully acquit its functions in accordance with international, as well as national, human rights standards. These obligations relate not only to reporting requirements (although in this respect the AGO/PPS will be an important source of information needed for State of Palestine’s periodic reporting to the treaty bodies), but also full implementation and institutionalization of these standards in the AGO/PPS’s daily functioning. The AGO/PPS’s strong commitment to gender equality reflected through its efforts to both mainstream gender in its functioning and develop specialist capacities to address cases concerning gender based violence, requires a more institutionalized foundation within the AGO/PPS’s structure. Under this same Programme, focused work on the development of these gender capacities is planned through a separate but coordinated intervention. Similarly, the AGO/PPS must ready itself for the likely introduction of the Juvenile Protection Law and ensure that it is using the existing legal framework to maximum effect for the protection of children’s rights when they come into contact with the law. Thus there are many reasons for why, at this juncture, the AGO is committed to moving ahead with establishing a Human Rights Unit.
 
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:
-Capacity of justice and security institutions strengthened and linkages forged
-Civil society contribution to rule of law and community access to justice in the West Bank enhanced
-Civil society contribution to rule of law and community access to justice in the Gaza Strip enhanced
-Gender responsive ness of justice, security and legislative actors strengthened
-Women & 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
-Juvenile justice and adherence to child rights improved
-Capacity of key actors and stakeholders to monitor progress and results in rule of law development increased
 
Against this backdrop, the services of a qualified human right expert with a strong background in public administration and with experience in the Palestinian justice sector are required, to work within the AGO/PPS to establish and develop the capacity of a Human Rights Unit.
 
The AGO/PPS has already determined that the scope of the Human Rights Unit will cover the areas of gender mainstreaming and specialisation efforts, juvenile justice responsiveness, human rights public complaints system and the AGO/PPS’s obligations under human rights and other relevant treaties and other areas as recommended or agreed to by the AGO.
 
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 assignment will be carried out in close coordination with the AGO, the head and other staff of the AGO’s planning unit and in consultation with all other parts of the AGO and District Public Prosecution Offices, the Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR), other key justice institutions (especially the Ministry of Justice due to its policy lead role in the justice sector), the High Judicial Council, Palestinian Civil Police, the Bar Association and with civil society organisations. The scoping with also take into consideration relevant regional and other comparative models adopted in AGO’s elsewhere to ensure the model accords with best international practices.
UNDP/PAPP is seeking a candidate to fill the position of Human Rights Coordinator (Attorney-General’s Office), under the overall guidance of the team leader and Joint Programme Manager, and the direct supervision of UNDP RoL Technical Specialist. As this position is related to the Joint 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
Description of Responsibilities:

Summary of key functions:
Under the supervision and guidance of the UNDP RoL Technical Specialist and collaborating closely with Attorney General, the Head and other staff of the Planning and Project Management Unit and other relevant units and directorates, the Human Rights Coordinator is expected to contribute to the sustainable establishment and development of a Human Rights Unit in the AGO/PPS. The key results expected of this assignment are:

-Mapping of AGO’s human rights obligations and increased awareness of this throughout the AGO 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
-Consideration of the alternative models for the establishment of a human rights unit for the AGO, based primarily on the AGO’s need to meet its human rights obligation, and best international practice.
-Arrival at a recommended model based on the above as well as through consultations with all parts of the AGO, other key justice institutions and human rights organisations, fitted to the AGO’s existing organisational chart and reporting lines.
-Development of 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
-Development of a plan for how the AGO can sustainably secure the needed human resources and identification of the key training and capacity development needs of the staff and the AGO/PPS as a whole. Put these into a Unit capacity development plan containing SMART indicators.
-Implementation of capacity development plan commenced.
-Ongoing provision of technical assistance and advice to members of the Unit through implementation of a coordinated work plan with AGO counterpart/s to incrementally transfer knowledge and skills to them and closely track implementation of the capacity development plan.
-Ongoing provision of advice and regular updates to the Attorney General and the Head of the Planning Unit as to progress of the Unit.
-Support to the Attorney General, Planning Unit Head and Unit Staff to build and maintain strong external and internal networks that could facilitate progress and coordination of human rights related activities between other justice institutions and with civil society organizations.

    Participation 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:

Successful implementation of to the Joint Programme, Strengthening the Rule of Law in the occupied Palestinian territory - Justice and Security for the Palestinian People through :

-Human rights needs of AGO assessed and plan for the development of a Human Rights Unit.
-Identification of human resource and capacity needs of Human Rights Unit
-Capacity of AGO human rights unit counterparts strengthened to implement the work of the Human Rights Unit including coordination of implementation efforts across the AGO and with other relevant institutions and civil society actors. .
-Increased permanent capacity built within the Human Rights Unit to sustain highly functional human rights capacities across areas of gender justice, 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 AGO’s work.
-Improved knowledge of senior AGO staff of AGO 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 AGO relevant directorates and units on relevant aspects of human rights treaty implementation, gender and 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
-Proven ability and experience of working in a team.
 

Technical and functional competency

    Formulates ideas drawing from extensive expertise
    Knowledge of legal aid concepts and principles and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations
    Knowledge of international Human Rights standards and principles (including human rights mainstreaming) and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations
    Ability to manage complex relationships through pathways of knowledge exchange, capacity development, funding relationships and strategic engagement.

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 working in the public sector
-Previous experience working with legal professionals.
-Good knowledge of the Palestinian justice sector and the Attorney General’s Office /PP in particular.
-Good awareness and understanding of gender and juvenile justice issues and the obstacles related to access to justice for women and children.

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.

“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
 
Important message to all applicants!
-Please be aware that the UNDP/PAPP will review your application only if you have uploaded Personal History Form (P.11) to your application. Please download the form from the following link: http://jobs.undp.ps.
-You will get the opportunity to upload the P-11 at when you apply for the position.
-Incomplete applications or applications received after the closing date will not be given consideration. Please note that only applications that are under consideration will be contacted.
-For more detailed information about UNDP/PAPP please visit our website at www.undp.ps.

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