Expert Advisor on Crimes Against and Affecting Children (Consultant)

BACKGROUND ABOUT LAW

LAW is an independent, non-profit organisation comprised of human rights lawyers and jurists working in fragile and conflict affected areas in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. LAW has a particular focus on gender equality and sexual and gender-based violence, the rule of law and accountability and transformative justice - working to bring justice to those who need it most.

LAW’s portfolio includes multiple ground-breaking cases, which utilise creative legal strategies on behalf of victims and survivors from some of the most challenging contexts, representing more than 1000 clients.

LAW’s ground-breaking work has received international media coverage, including in the New York Times, the Times of London, the Guardian, Al-Jazeera, BBC News, France24, The Independent, Voice of America, Huffington Post and Foreign Policy.

MORE ABOUT THIS WORK

Where? The role will be based in Geneva Preferably but flexible to consider other Europe-based countries (working remotely) or from one of LAW’s hub office (subject to right to work eligibility in the respective country). Travel throughout the world will be required.

Duration: Specific assignments will be commissioned under a Framework Agreement. Flexible, specific ToR to be agreed over weeks or months (exact dates to be agreed). .

Salary: Competitive consultancy rates will be offered.

Programmatic

· Support with development and implementation of LAW’s strategy to increase access to justice for marginalized victims of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), with a focus on children and LGBTQI+ youth;

· Conduct fieldwork including taking high quality statements from child victims in line with a victim-centred, trauma-informed and child-sensitive approach;

· Develop and maintain strong relationships with key actors including; governments, partners, community groups, INGO’s and the UN;

· Coordinate and/or conduct policy, research, and advocacy initiatives and help identify cases for strategic litigation and other legal interventions;

· Develop outputs that can be shared with both internal and external stakeholders, based on information generated by the programme;

· Deliver technical assistance to local partners in client and case methodologies and evidence collection, child protection and safeguarding, monitoring and evaluation, and risk analysis and management;;

· Coordinate with LAW’s Senior Management Team, and other programme managers as needed.

Advocacy and Communications:

· Develop the profile and visibility of the programme and represent LAW on national and regional platforms;

· Establish networks with local NGO and Government bodies and participate in coordination mechanisms at a regional level to influence legislation and policy changes;

· Coordinate and ensure that website and social media content related to the programmes is up to-date and engaging audiences;

· Contribute to LAW’s advocacy tools, including factsheets and the LAW Annual Report;

· Develop and implement a high-level advocacy strategy in line with global priorities that engages national, regional institutions and the international community.

About You

· The right to work in respective country where you will be based.

· A degree in law and preferably bar membership, with 4 years’ post-graduate experience in human rights law, criminal law or refugee law;

· Five years’ demonstrated experience in a similar role, involving children’s rights, child protection, crimes against children, and/or information, counselling and legal assistance to marginalised victims such as children and LGBTQI+ individuals;

· Minimum one years’ experience interviewing survivors and witnesses of international crimes and human rights abuses;

· Qualification or relevant PSEA Investigation training and/ or child protections training;

· Demonstrated knowledge of human rights law, international criminal law, humanitarian law and public international law;

· Excellent organisational skills, with ability to effectively manage individual and project workplan in a fast-paced environment and to effectively problem solve and troubleshoot;

· Exceptional written and oral communication skills in English;

· Flexibility and ability to work simultaneously on a wide range of tasks and projects; ability to prioritise tasks, particularly under pressure, and to meet tight deadlines.

· Excellent observation, active listening and analytical skills with ability to make sound judgment;

Preferred requirements:

· Demonstrated knowledge or experience of working with survivors of sexual violence;

· Demonstrated experience in fundraising for international donor funded legal projects in complex or conflict affected environment and liaising with donors preferred;

· Demonstrated experience in programme management, including budget management;