National Capacity building consultancy – Sexual assault cases management, Home Based with field visits

Background:

UN Women (UNW), grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. Placing women’s rights at the centre of all its efforts, the UN Women leads and coordinates the United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

UN Women’s triple mandate, along with its global network and deep policy and programming expertise, continues to endow the Entity with a unique capacity to: (i) support Member States to strengthen global norms and standards for gender equality and women’s empowerment, and mainstream gender perspectives in other thematic areas; (ii) promote coordination and coherence across the UN system to enhance accountability and results for gender equality and women’s empowerment; and (iii) undertake operational activities to support Member States, upon their request, in translating global norms and standards into legislation, policies and strategies at country level.

UN Women plays an innovative and catalytic role in the State of Palestine since its inception in 1997 (as UNIFEM). In line with the national priorities, the work of UN Women for the period 2023-2025 is aligned with three of the Palestine United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework’s (UNSDCF) outcomes:

• Palestinians have greater access to economic opportunities that are inclusive, resilient, and sustainable, including decent employment and livelihoods opportunities in an empowered private sector.
• Palestinians, including the most vulnerable, have equal access to sustainable, inclusive, gender responsive and quality social services, social protection, and affordable utilities.
• Palestinian governance institutions, processes, and mechanisms at all levels are more democratic, rights-based, inclusive, and accountable.

Its three-year Strategic Note supports the efforts to achieve measurable results in country in terms of four UN Women global Strategic Plan impacts (2022-2025): (SP Impact 1). Governance and participation in public life; (SP Impact 2). Women’s Economic Empowerment; (SP Impact 3). Ending Violence Against Women and Girls and; SP Impact 4. Women peace and security, Humanitarian & Disaster Risk Reduction.

In line with the Palestinian Government’s commitment to achieve gender equality and combat Violence Against Women (VAW), and in full partnership with the Justice, Security and Social Sectors, UN Women within its joint programme with UNDP and UNICEF- “ Reinforcing equal access to justice for all Palestinians – SAWASYA III” is supporting the justice, security and social institutions to mainstream gender into their plans, procedures and policies; develop and provide gender responsive services to women victims and survivors of violence.

Sexual assaults against women form a severe violation for women’s human rights. Addressing sexual assaults still face societal and legal challenges, which jeopardize the safety and the well-being of women survivors of these crimes. During the consultations which UN Women Sawasya III programme facilitated between service providers at the justice, security and social sectors partners, participants emphasized on the importance of strengthening the institutional capacities of their respective institutions in managing these cases, to effectively protect women survivors of sexual assaults and enhance their access to justice.

In line with this, a key priority identified by the Attorney General Office (AGO), is the need to unify and institutionalize gender-sensitive mechanisms and procedures at the AGO for the revision of sexual assault cases against women, both within and outside the family context across the different departments, to improve the Public Prosecution’s (PP) management of these cases.

To address these challenges, UN Women, under the Sawasya III programme, plans to recruit a national expert to support the AGO’s Office in developing a gender responsive and inclusive review and monitoring tool (Tool), which incorporates gender-sensitive standards and oversight mechanisms across the relevant AGO’s Departments. The Tool refers to structured and practical guidelines including a checklist that includes criteria designed to support prosecutors in ensuring a consistent and gender-sensitive review of sexual assault cases against women.

Additionally, the expert will also strengthen the capacities of prosecutors assigned to review cases of sexual assaults against women in line with the developed Tool. Moreover, s/he will support strengthening the capacities of different actors, including: the Family Protection Prosecution (FPP’s) prosecutors and a wider group of Public Prosecutors; VAW judges and a wider group of judges and Women’s Social Protection Counselors at the Ministry of Social Development (MoSD), in areas related to the management of sexual assault cases against women.

Objectives:

The consultancy has five main objectives as per the following points:

• Develop a gender responsive and inclusive review tool (Tool) for sexual assault cases against women, for the benefit of the AGO and support the integration of the Tool into the AGO’s procedures, policies and frameworks.
• Strengthen the capacities of prosecutors responsible for case review at the Technical Office, the Deputy AGO’s and the Inspection Unit on the effective usage of the Tool. (6 days training)
• Strengthen the capacities of prosecutors at the (FPP) and a wider group of PP in areas related to sexual assault cases against women. (12 days training).
• Strengthen the capacities of VAW judges and a wider group of judges in areas related to sexual assault cases against women. (12 days training)
• Strengthen the capacities of MoSD social counselors in areas related to sexual assault cases against women. (4 days training).

The consultant will be reporting to Sawasya III Rule of Law and Protection Specialist and will be supported by the Prosecution Analyst, in addition to the Finance Associate who will be the point of contact on the contract and payment issues.

Description of Responsibilities/ Scope of Work

Developing the inception report:

• Meet with UN Women and partners’ focal points to discuss the assignment and its objectives.
• Conduct desk review of related national and international literature – including partners’ procedures, relevant legal standards, and gender-sensitive guidelines.
• Develop and share the inception report, including the methodology, the deliverables and time frame with UN Women for review and approval.

Developing the Tool:

• Meet with the focal points at the Technical Office, FPP, Deputy AGO, Planning Unit, and the Inspection Unit at the AGO to collect firsthand data on the issue.
• Draft a gender- responsive and user-friendly guiding review tool based on international human rights, gender justice standards and national procedures.
• Facilitate brainstorming and validation discussions on the Tool.
• Amend and submit the amended Tool for UN Women and the AGO for final review and approval.
• Support the process of aligning the Tool with other tools and frameworks at the AGO-through providing guidance on its integration into those references.

Developing and delivering capacity- building training on the Tool:

• Develop pre and post assessments templates and share with UN Women for review and approval.
• Develop and deliver six- days training on the Tool for the AGO’s relevant staff.
• Develop and submit a training report capturing the main topics that were discussed and reflecting on the findings of the pre and post assessments, along with related observations and recommendations.

Capacity building training on the management of sexual assault cases against women:

• Develop pre and post assessments templates and share with UN Women for review and approval.
• Develop and deliver twelve days training for the FPP’s prosecutors and a wider group of PP on the management of sexual assault cases against women.
• Develop and deliver twelve days training for the VAW judges and a wider group of judges on the management and adjudication of sexual assault cases against women.
• Develop and deliver four days training for the Women’s Protection Social Counselors at the MoSD on the management of sexual assault cases against women
• Develop and submit training reports for each training, capturing the main topics that were discussed and reflecting on the findings of the pre and post assessments, along with related observations and recommendations.

Reporting on the assignment:

• Develop a final narrative report on the assignment – that includes a description of the methodology, the main results, challenges and recommendations, in addition to related annexes, including the training material, the participants lists and other documents as relevant.

Deliverables:

The consultancy has three main deliverables:

Deliverables

Expected completion time

The first deliverable:

Approved inception report (in English).

Ten days after the signing of the contract

Approved draft Tool (in Arabic).

Two months after the signing of the contract

The second deliverable:

A final approved Tool; a successful completion of the six- days training on the Tool along with a successful completion of twelve days training for the PP.

Six months after the signing of the contract

The third deliverable:

A successful completion of twelve days training for judges; a successful completion of four days training for MoSD along with an approved final narrative report .

Ten months after the signing of the contract

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel:

This is a home-based assignment, with required travel to AGO, the HJC and the MoSD in Ramallah and other locations if needed. The consultant will coordinate closely with UN Women and AGO counterparts throughout the assignment.

Competencies :

Core Values:

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Leading by Example.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework:

Functional Competencies:

• Ability to conduct needs assessment through consultation with stakeholders.
• Very strong background on gender.
• Ability to manage time and meet tight deadlines.
• Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback.
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills.
• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback.
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.
• Proven networking, organizational and communication skills.

Required Qualifications:

Education and Certification:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Gender Studies, Sociology, Law, Human Rights or a related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• At least 3 years of professional working experience in the field of access to justice and gender-based violence against women is required.
• Experience in areas related to providing support to survivors of sexual assaults is required.
• Experience with prosecutorial or judicial institutions, particularly in Palestine is desirable.
• Experience in development of monitoring mechanisms, SoPs, or legal/ social related tool is desirable.
• Experience in developing and delivering capacity building training, preferably for prosecution or judicial institutions is desirable.
• Experience with UN or international organizations is desirable.
• A sample of a previously developed guidance note or SoPs or monitoring and accountability tools or other legal/ social tool in areas related to violence against women, preferably in areas related to sexual assaults against women must be attached as part of your application.

Languages:

• Fluency in Arabic is required.
• Fluency in English is required.

Statements :

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Diversity and inclusion:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)

Note: Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history, are completed. If all sections are not completed the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.

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