Antecedentes

Violence against women and girls is one of the most universal and pervasive human rights violations in the world. It constitutes a global pandemic of alarming proportions, with country data showing that about one third of women in the world report experiencing physical and/or sexual violence at some point in their lifetime, mainly by their partners. The magnitude of violence against women translates into very high costs – for women and girl’s lives and well-being, health and safety, as well as for school achievement, productivity, public policies and budgets. It has impacts on children, other family members, and whole communities. If unaddressed, these human rights violations have serious cost implications and consequences, on poverty reduction and development, including for efforts to achieve the MDGs and any post 2015 development goals. Access to corresponding essential services can provide women and girls the opportunity to break recurrent cycles of violence and mitigate the consequences.
 
At policy levels, few countries in the world have national strategies that include explicit prioritization of improved and expanded access to quality multisectoral services for all women and girls victims/survivors of violence. The Joint Global Programme on Essential Services for Women and Girls subject to Violence (‘the Joint Programme’) co-managed by UN Women and UNFPA in partnership with UNDP, UNODC, WHO and others is aimed at responding to these critical gaps and challenges, with a particular focus on developing countries. It aims to achieve greater access for all women and girls who have experienced gender-based violence to a set of essential quality and coordinated multisectoral services.
 
The joint programme includes partnering with other key UN agencies and working with experts, researchers, practitioners, governments and civil society to:
  • Reach an agreement on the set of essential services that are required to be provided to women and girls vulnerable to or that have been subjected to gender based violence;
  •  Develop and/or adapt standards and/or guidelines for the provision of the essential services  in the four key areas of 1) health, 2) police and justice, 3) social support services and 4) coordination and governance. These standards/guidelines must apply in all income/resource settings (ranging from the minimum required even in the least developed countries to the more optimal in middle income countries); 
  •  Identify, develop or adapt methodologies, guidance or tools to assist implementation at the country level; and
  • Provide technical assistance to assist implementation at the country-level.

Deberes y responsabilidades

Role of the Consultant
 
The successful consultant will prepare background materials including a technical paper for a global technical consultation to identify the core elements of an essential justice response as well as the development and/or adaptation of quality standards and guidelines for the provision of justice responses to violence against women. The successful candidate will also work with another consultant that will be focused on preparing similar background materials and a technical paper on the core elements of an essential police response as well as the development and/or adaptation of standards and guidelines for the provision of police responses to violence against women to ensure a comprehsive set of police and justice sector services and standards and guidelines that apply to them are developed. The successful consultant will be expected to lead and facilitate the process for the consultations particularly the sessions focused on justice services and responses, in close consultation and cooperation with the second consultant, and with UN Women, UNFPA, UNODC and UNDP.
 
Objectives of the consultancy
 
To assist UN Women, UNFPA, UNODC and UNDP in preparing for the global technical consultation on police and the justice sector (tentatively scheduled for 5-9 May 2015) to identify the core elements of the justice sector’s response to violence against women and girls and to develop and or adapt standards and guidelines for the provision of the response.
 
Work assignment
 
The following activities will be undertaken by the consultant in close collaboration and consultation with UN Women (EVAW Section), UNFPA, UNODC and UNDP:
  • Prepare a background paper (max.20-35 single-space pages) for the technical consultation that will provide the context for the development or adaptation of standards and guidelines for the provision of justice sector responses to women and girls vulnerable to or who have been subjected to gender based violence. This paper is expected to develop and further explore the following issues which include: identifying what policy/legal frameworks and structures have to be in place for the delivery of rights-based responses; identifying the relevant core elements of the broader justice sector’s  response; developing draft standards and/or guidelines for the provision of a quality response; and discussion of the practical guidance for implementing the standards, particularly in low to medium income countries. This paper will also highlight the issues of mutual concern or overlap between the police response and the broader the justice system’s response;
  • Assist in the identification of a range of technical experts to participate in the consultation;
  • In close cooperation with UN Women, UNFPA, UNODC and UNDP, lead and facilitate the technical consultation on the justice sector response and work together with the second consultant to lead and facilitate the combined sessions of the consultation;
  • Coordinate closely during the entire assignment with the second consultant hired for the police part of the programme to ensure that all issues for both the police and the justice system have been addressed comprehensively and consistently;
  • Present the paper and lead the discussions at the technical consultation;
  • Draft and finalize the final technical consultation report and final set of standards and guidelines; and
  • Undertake any other activities as appropriate to assist UN Women, UNFPA, UNODC and UNDP in organizing the global technical consultation.
Outputs
  • Technical background paper on “Justice Sector responses and standards for violence against women and girls”.
  • Coordination and facilitation of the global technical consultation and presentation of the background paper;
  • Final report of the technical consultation;
  • Final set of standards and guidelines for the provision of a quality justice response.

Competencias

Core Values and Guiding Principles
 
Integrity
  • Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.

Professionalism

  •  Demonstrate professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work.

Cultural sensitivity and valuing diversity

  • Demonstrate an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff. Demonstrate an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:
  • A masters degree in the area of law, criminology or criminal justice or other relevant field.
 Experience:
  • A qualified legal practitioner or suitably qualified expert who has worked within the justice sector in the area of violence against women;
  • At least 10 years work experience in the field of violence against women and girls including at international level. It is preferable that applicants have practical experience in working with the justice sector in developing countries.
 Language:
  • Fluency in English is required (oral and written);
  • Proficiency in another UN working language is desirable.
 
Note:

Applicants may be asked to provide example/s of their previous work.