Background
In the last five years, the government of FYR Macedonia has increased its efforts with the support from the Non-Governmental organizations in combating and preventing the phenomenon of domestic violence in the country. Changes in the legislative framework have been done to adequately address the issue and improve the protective and preventive measures. Besides amendments of laws, National Strategy for Protection against Domestic Violence (2008-2011) has been adopted in 2008.
- Efficient policy-making and improved policy implementation accountability of all relevant national; stakeholders
- Support national data collection and dissemination system
- Improve service provision
- Establish programmes for economic empowerment and reintegration of victims of DV
- Improve prevention through formal education system
- Improve prevention through awareness raising and BCC programmes
- Expand legal aid services
In terms of expanding legal aid services for victims of domestic violence, the Joint Programme will support activities aiming at enlarging and improving the system of legal aid provision and raising awareness and capacity building of the legal aid providers. Efforts will be directed towards setting the criteria for standardization of the legal aid services to victims of domestic violence, licensing and trainings of legal aid providers.
With the amendment of the Law on the Family in 2008, besides Centers for Social Work, Civil Society Organizations are entitled also to provide all temporary protective measures foreseen by the law, except from bringing procedures before the relevant court and filing complaints with the relevant court for the purposes of ordering temporary protection measures. At present there are several NGOs in the country providing legal aid, and their work consist mainly of offering legal advices and few offer also legal representation.
Women NGOs role has been essential in extrapolating the issue of domestic violence from the private to the public domain and for bringing it to the policy agenda of the government.
Information and free of charge legal advices on safety measures and protection services to victims offered by women NGOs have proven to be effective, especially in the South-East European region, in encouraging the victims of domestic violence to recognize and report the offense and seek justice.
The UN Joint Programme on Domestic Violence will seek to support the civil society organizations’ effort in offering legal aid to victims of DV by increasing the number of legal aid centers, building their capacity in undertaking pro-active approach in providing legal aid to victims and their coordination in a nation wide network of NGOs.
The Programme will contribute to the realization of the specific objective 4 of the National Strategy for Protection from Domestic Violence aiming at improving the system for protection of victims of domestic violence. With regards to legal aid provision, it will support the activities relating to assessment of the legal aid services provided by non-governmental organizations and their standardization.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Develop methodology for assessing the capacities and needs of legal aid providers throughout the country (drafting of questionnaire and interview concepts)
- Conduct field research (interviews with Centers for Social Work, local prevention councils from Ministry of Interior and NGOs) on the share of domestic violence cases reported in 85 municipalities in the country, on the number of requests for legal aid by victims, on the services provided by Centers for Social Work, NGOs and Bar members and other related issues.
- Write a capacity and needs assessment study on the legal aid provision to victims of domestic violence
- Develop training modules for NGOs based on the minimum standards for legal aid provision
- Develop training modules for Bar representatives on legal aid for victims of domestic violence
- Develop Guide for Bar representatives on legal aid for victims of domestic violence
- Hold the trainings for NGOs and Bar representatives on legal aid provision, and referral mechanisms between entrusted institutions (police, centers for social work), primary legal aid providers and bar members.
- Draft a proposal for the establishment of nation wide network of providers of legal aid to victims of domestic violence
Deliverables:
- Questionnaire and interview modules
- Capacity and needs assessment study on legal aid provision
- Draft proposal for establishing a network of legal aid providers to victims of domestic violence
- Training modules for NGOs and Bar members
- Final report on the completed assignment, conclusions drawn and recommendations offered to UNIFEM for future work
Duration of assignment:
Competencies
- Knowledge of policies and practices in protection of victims of domestic violence with specific reference to legal aid provision and coordination mechanisms between relevant stakeholders;
- At least 3 years of practical experience or substantial knowledge in legal aid assistance
- Excellent analytical skills and experience in field research
- Strong organizational and coordination capacities
- Ability to work as member of team with persons from different cultural, ethnic and religious background
- Advanced knowledge and understanding of the civil society sector
- Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines.
Required Skills and Experience
- An advanced university degree or equivalent in legal, sciences would be considered an advantage
- Knowledge of Macedonian language and fluency in spoken and written English is a must,
- Familiarity with UN system