Researcher – Dealing with the Past

BACKGROUND

Legal Action Worldwide (LAW) is a unique non-profit network and think tank of lawyers that provides creative legal assistance in fragile and conflict-affected areas and places national lawyers at the forefront of legal change. LAW uses advocacy, research, legal empowerment and strategic litigation to bring about this change. LAW’s thematic focuses include: Gender equality and sexual and gender-based violence; Accountability and the Rule of Law; and Transitional Justice. LAW’s Advisory Council and Board are comprised of senior international lawyers who advise LAW on the development of innovative litigation and legal strategies.

LAW’s ground-breaking work has been included in a number of UN and Member State government reports and has received international media coverage, including in the New York Times, the Times of London, the Guardian, Voice of America, BBC News, Sky News, Al Jazeera, Huffington Post and Foreign Policy.

Lebanon: Dealing with the Past Programme

Lebanon’s 15-year civil war waged from 1975 until 1990, which involved a range of local and international actors, two parallel occupations by Israel and Syria, and a string of high-profile assassinations. According to International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), 75% of Lebanese citizens have personally lived through armed conflict with 96% of citizens having been affected in some way, whether personally or through the wider consequences of armed conflict. Lebanon’s civil war led to the deaths of over 100,000 civilians and the disappearance of approximately 17,000. Women have been severely impacted by periods of conflict in Lebanon. The 2006 International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, which Lebanon has signed but not yet ratified, identifies both the disappeared as well as their family as victims of enforced disappearance. Women make up the minority of the disappeared but are disproportionately affected as most family members of the disappeared, who suffer socioeconomic and psychological disadvantages following the loss of a male family member who is often the main source of income. Wives and children of the disappeared cannot ‘forgive and forget’ and the life-long nature of this violation is well-established. Gender-sensitive approaches to transitional justice are thus needed.

The project will focus on women victims and survivors from the civil war until current time. The objective for this position is to document gender-based crimes and human rights violations during the civil war period and in subsequent conflicts in addition to the medical, psychological and social needs of the families of the disappeared.

LAW is seeks an experienced researcher to lead on the research of the UN Women funded Dealing with the Past project. You must be passionate and committed to make a difference so that you establish trust with victims and survivors from the civil war.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Reports to:                                                                                                         Duration:

Programme Manage                 r                                                                     6 months – January 2021 – June 2021                                                                            

Location:                                                                                                             Hours: 

Beirut    with domestic travel                                                                         Flexible / open to part time or consultancy contract                                                                                           

Functions/Key Deliverables Expected:

The researcher will perform duties and responsibilities in accordance with the deliverables outlined below:

• Produce two assessment reports for the project May/June:
  •  One on psychological, medical and
  • Two legal needs of the families of the disappeared
• Conduct desk based research and review of existing documentation of legal, medical and psychosocial needs of families of the disappeared and of gender-based crimes committed during the war;
• Prepare research design and methodology of study and the needs assessment;
• Draft and prepare interview questions and questionnaire for in-depth interviews with survivors;
• Identify and meet with women survivor groups;
• Conduct Focus Group Discussion with survivors;
• Conduct in-depth interviews;
• Analyse results of all research conducted and development of the two important reports.
• Present evidence based reports and results to UN Women;
• Document lessons learned, best practices, success stories, most significant changes, case studies and other useful changes during project implementation;
• Any other task relevant to the position as requested by the Programme Manager.

Experience, Skills and Qualifications Required:

• Bachelor degree in law or human rights; or relevant field

• Excellent written and oral English and Arabic;

• Three years’ experience in a similar role demonstrating research and drafting skills;
• Demonstrated experience working in international humanitarian law, human rights law, justice and accountability, criminal law, or refugee law.
• Project management experience or skills;
• Experience of handling cases of sexual and gender-based violence preferred;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and strong technical literacy;
• Strong written and spoken communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently and take initiative;

Preference / desired requirements:

• Legal background and experience would be preferred
• Experience working in the Middle East;
• Observation, active listening and analytical skills with ability to make sound judgment;
• Insight or knowledge working within a volatile and unpredictable nature of fragile and conflict affected areas.