Country: Switzerland
Closing date: 07 Apr 2017
About Us
The International Bar Association (IBA), established in 1947, is the world’s leading organisation of international legal practitioners, bar associations, law firms and law societies. The IBA influences the development of international law reform and shapes the future of the legal profession throughout the world. It has a membership of over 55,000 individual lawyers and 206 bar associations and law societies spanning all continents. It has considerable expertise in providing legal assistance to the global legal community. The IBA’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), an autonomous and financially independent entity, works to promote, protect and enforce human rights under a just rule of law, and to preserve the independence of the judiciary and the legal profession worldwide.
The Assignment
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Consultancy length: 4 months
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) launched its United Nations (UN) Programme in 2014, with the aim of informing and fostering lawyers’ engagement in UN mechanisms and strengthening the dialogue between states and the legal community on human rights.
With lawyers at the forefront of protecting human rights, the effective implementation of UN standards relating to the independence of the judiciary and legal profession is at the heart of the promotion and protection of human rights around the world. UN human rights mechanisms provide effective and accessible tools to promote international standards, which protect the legal profession’s ability to safeguard the rule of law.
The UN Programme pursues the following objectives:
- Strengthening the international legal framework protecting the legal profession by providing expert support to UN human rights mechanisms;
- Raising awareness about UN standards on the role of judges, lawyers and prosecutors, the independence of the judiciary and the situation of legal professionals at country level; and
- Fostering the involvement of lawyers in UN human rights mechanisms by training lawyers and building the capacity of bar associations
The UN Programme undertakes three main activities: advocacy, research and training. In order to encourage lawyers’ advocacy at the international level, it produces guidelines for lawyers, judge
The UN-Geneva Legal Consultant will be responsible for advancing the work of the organisation in Geneva.
Services
Under the supervision and guidance of the Senior Programme Lawyer based in London, the UN-Geneva Legal Consultant will be expected to fulfil the following terms of reference during the period of the consultancy:
- Carry out expert research and work towards the publication of a high standard report as required by the IBAHRI;
- Monitor developments at the UN level relevant to the work of the IBAHRI and provide guidance to the organisation as to possible avenues for engagement;
- Cooperate and work with other organisations in supporting advancement on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers;
- Identify opportunities to raise awareness about the IBA/IBAHRI activities in Geneva;
- Represent the IBAHRI externally, including attending meetings and events, developing partnerships with UN agencies, development partners and UN permanent missions
Standards
In carrying out the above, the UN-Geneva Consultant will at all times adhere to the highest professional standards and to IBA and IBAHRI procedures and policies as directed.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience
- Extensive knowledge and experience of working with the UN human rights bodies and mandates in Geneva
- At least 5 years’ experience working in the field of international human rights
- Law degree or any other relevant field such as international relations or political studies
- Strong analytical, research and writing skills, including the ability to write concisely and under pressure (candidates must have previous reporting experience)
- Strong organisational, communication and diplomatic skills; experience in dealing with senior professionals at a high level an advantage
- High level of professionalism and attention to detail
- A positive and flexible attitude
- Fluent written and spoken English
- Computer skills
- Must have the right to work in Geneva for the duration of the consultancy
- Fluency in spoken French (highly desirable)
- Knowledge and experience working on matters related to juvenile justice (desirable)
- Knowledge and experience working on the rule of law (desirable)
- Postgraduate degree in Law or any other relevant field such as international relations, political studies (desirable)
- Experience working as a consultant (desirable)
Fee
- · Consultancy fee commensurate to experience
How to apply:
Please send a cover letter and full CV detailing your experience as relevant to the above qualifications and qualities, by email to recruitment@int-bar.org. Copy all applications to Phillip.Tahmindjis@int-bar.org and Muluka.Miti-Drummond@int-bar.org.
The cover letter should specifically address the qualification requirements listed above.
The closing date for applications is 07 April 2017 with interviews (by Skype) to take place shortly after.
The services are expected to start on 24 April 2017 or as soon as possible thereafter.
For more information contact Dr. Phillip Tahmindjis, IBAHRI Director at Phillip.Tahmindjis@int-bar.org and Muluka Miti-Drummond, IBAHRI Senior Programme Lawyer Muluka.Miti-Drummond@int-bar.org.