UNDP Jobs - 57113- International Consultant on Human Rights and Diver

International Consultant on Human Rights and Diversity Mainstreaming into National Sectorial Policies and Legislation in the Republic of Moldova

Location :

Chisinau, MOLDOVA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

06-Jul-2015

Application Deadline :

21-Jun-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

July 2015 – December 2015 (up to 40 working days)

Languages Required :

English Russian

Expected Duration of Assignment :

July 2015 – December 2015 (up to 40 working days)

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Republic of Moldova is a State-Party to the majority UN and CoE human rights treaties. The National Human Rights Action Plan for 2011-2014 contains commitments to protect and advance specific human rights taking into account the recommendations of the UN treaty bodies and a number of UPR recommendations. Related priorities and commitments are established under the UN-Moldova Partnership Framework (UNPF) 2013-2017. Reform of the National Human Rights Institutions is prioritized at the highest level of government. The Equality Council and Ombudsperson Office are the two major national human rights institutions in the Republic of Moldova (RM) working specifically on the issues of equality, non-discrimination and human rights protection and promotion.

In May 2012, the Parliament of the RM passed the Law on Ensuring Equality, stipulating the establishment of the Council on the Prevention and Elimination of Discrimination and Ensuring Equality (Equality Council) to ensure protection against discrimination and ensure equality of all persons who consider themselves to be victims of discrimination, as well as revise individual complaints and deliver decisions on them. As a newly established institution, the Council is in need of institutional strengthening and capacity building in human rights, equality, case management, as well as maximization of its impact on human rights and diversity.

In April 2014, the Parliament of the RM passed a new Law on the Peoples Advocate (Ombudsperson). As a result of a number of institutional weaknesses, the Ombudsperson Office remains insufficiently known among the public-at-large, and not sufficiently powerful to act as Moldova’s main human rights institution. Therefore it is in need of institutional capacity building and mainstreaming of human rights based approach into its work, as well as support towards maximization of its impact on human rights and diversity.

The overall objective of the project “Supporting National Human Rights Institutions as per International Treaty Bodies and UPR Recommendations” is to contribute to the effective protection and promotion of human rights, equality and non-discrimination in the Republic of Moldova with particular attention to women, minorities, marginalised and vulnerable groups. The project is funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, co-funded and implemented by the UNDP Moldova and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in cooperation with the Ombudsperson Office and Equality Council.

The main objective is to maximize the impact of Equality Council and Ombudsperson Office in the areas of human rights and diversity mainstreaming into national sectorial policies and legislation.

Duties and Responsibilities

The scope of the work of the International Consultant will consist in providing expertise in relation to the analysis of sectorial policies and legislation of the RM as to ensure their compliance with human rights and equality principles and further elaborating proposals for mainstreaming the human rights based approach, as well as ensuring follow-up training on these methodologies of the relevant staff members of the Equality Council and Ombudsperson Office.

In order to achieve the objective the International Consultant shall:

Work closely with the relevant staff of the Equality Council and Ombudsperson Office to identify their specific needs in developing the “Methodology for reviewing already existing and newly proposed sectorial policies, strategies and legislation to ensure their compliance with human rights, equality and diversity principles and further human rights mainstreaming” (from hereinafter Methodology:

Draft a clear, accessible and usable Methodology, in consultation with the relevant staff of the Equality Council, Ombudsperson Office and other involved authorities, if necessary;
Contribute to the elaboration of relevant methodologies and/or guidelines regarding the compliance with human rights, equality and diversity principles and further human rights mainstreaming within sectorial policies and strategies drafted by other public institutions;
Prepare, organize and lead one hands-on, interactive training on the use of the Methodology for relevant Equality Council and Ombudsperson Office staff;
Provide support to relevant staff of the Equality Council and Ombudsperson Office on applying the Methodology for review of already existing and newly proposed policies and laws;
Where necessary, hold consultation meetings with relevant governmental bodies and stakeholders;
Work closely with the National Consultant contracted for the purposes of the assignment;
Where relevant, work closely with other Consultants contracted within the project;
Develop and provide activity reports and other narrative progress reports as specified in the deliverables for the assignment;
Undertake other related tasks for the purposes of the assignment.

For detailed information, please, refer to Annex 1 – Terms of Reference.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Demonstrable knowledge of the Human Rights Based Approach and its application in legislation, policies and practices;
Demonstrable extensive knowledge of legislation and policy drafting/preparation processes in the Republic of Moldova is an asset;
Effective communication and strong analytical skills;
Responsibility;
Punctuality;
Attention to detail.

Core Competencies:

Proven commitment to the core values of the United Nations, in particular, respecting differences of culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, language, age, HIV status, disability, and sexual orientation, or other status.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent (5-year university education) in Law, Public Administration, Human Rights, Public Law or other relevant field.

Experience:

At least 3 years of proven professional experience in a legal area, legal analysis, human rights or other relevant fields;
Demonstrable experience carrying out review of legislation and policies;
Working experience or academic knowledge of National Human Rights Institutions is an asset.

Language:

Fluent knowledge of English or Russian for the purposes of the assignment;
Knowledge of Romanian is an asset.