Result of Service
Comprehensive Mapping Report identifying a network of qualified lawyers and legal aid organizations in the target countries with the required knowledge and experience who are willing to offer their services on a pro bono basis.
Establishment of a network of lawyers and legal aid organizations identified.
Convening a meeting to exchange good practices, experiences and identify strategies for the resolution of paternity and child support claims, strengthen referral pathways and improve consistency in legal assistance provided to victims of SEA.
Produce a technical paper on good practices on the provision of legal assistance to victims of SEA, which can be disseminated across the community of practice of field advocates, lawyers and legal aid organizations.
Establish a multi-stakeholder forum bringing together relevant national authorities and United Nations actors in target countries (Liberia/Nigeria, CAR/Cameroon) to address legal and procedural barriers to the recognition of paternity for children born of SEA by United Nations staff or affiliate personnel.
Convene initial meetings of the forum.
Duties and Responsibilities
The mandate of the Victims’ Rights Advocate was established as part of the Secretary-General’s four-pronged strategy on prevention of and response to sexual exploitation and abuse set out his 2017 report on special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (A/71/818). The mandate derives from the priorities established in relevant Assembly resolutions and/or decisions, including resolutions 62/214, 71/278, 71/297 and 72/312.
The centerpiece of the strategy is putting the rights and dignity of victims first in United Nations prevention and response, and the Victims’ Rights Advocate, her Office and field advocates aim to implement a victims’ rights approach throughout the United Nations system through three main pillars: voice, assistance and justice. The work of the Victims’ Rights Advocate is operationalized on the ground in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti and South Sudan by dedicated Senior Victims’ Rights Officers.
Under the “Justice” pillar, a key component of the VRA’s mandate is to advocate for holistic justice for victims/survivors, including accountability of perpetrators, access to restorative measures, and resolution of paternity and child support claims. This approach advances a victims’ rights-based approach to justice, which extends beyond protection and assistance to include meaningful access to remedies and legal recognition.
This includes supporting victims and their children in securing civil justice outcomes, such as the establishment of paternity and enforcement of child support obligations, which are critical to long-term recovery, dignity, and socio-economic stability. In practice, access to justice for victims of SEA remains uneven, particularly where legal aid systems are under-resourced or where procedural barriers prevent the effective adjudication of paternity and maintenance claims.
The OVRA therefore plays a catalytic role in strengthening both national and international capacities to respond to these gaps, working in partnership with United Nations entities, Member States, and justice actors. The individual contractor will report directly to the Senior Human Rights Officer (P5) in OVRA and work closely with Senior Victims' Rights Officers and Victims’ Rights Focal Points in the field. Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Senior Human Rights Officer, the individual contractor will undertake the following tasks:
Conduct a comprehensive desk review and initial consultations with relevant UN entities, national legal actors, service providers, working in close coordination with Senior Victims Rights Officers, Victims’ Rights Focal Points, Resident Coordinator’s Offices in the target countries.
Identify and map lawyers and legal aid organizations in the targeted countries with the required knowledge and expertise, including demonstrated expertise in family law, who are willing to provide pro bono legal services.
Establish a network of the lawyers and legal aid organizations identified.
Convene a meeting of network members (lawyers and legal aid organizations) to exchange good practices and identify strategies for the resolution of paternity and child support claims, strengthen referral pathways and improve consistency in legal assistance provided to victims of SEA.
Identify good practices on the provision of legal assistance to victims, which can be disseminated across the community of practice of field advocates, lawyers and legal aid organizations.
Identify and establish contacts with national authorities and relevant UN entities in target countries (Liberia/Nigeria and CAR/Cameroon) coordination with SVROs, SVRPs and other UN entities.
Establish a multi-stakeholder forum bringing together relevant national authorities and UN actors in the target countries to address legal and procedural barriers to the recognition of paternity for children born of SEA by UN staff and affiliate personnel
Perform other related duties as required to support the advancement of access to justice objectives under the OVRA mandate.
Qualifications/special skills
Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in law. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A minimum of five years of progressive experience in rule of law, including providing technical assistance to national authorities, is required. Demonstrated experience in supporting and advising national legal assistance providers and pro bono lawyers is required.
Demonstrated experience in supporting and providing technical assistance to national authorities on resolving complex legal and procedural issues in criminal, administrative or family law is required. Familiarity with family law, and with issues relating to paternity and child support claims for victims of sexual exploitation and abuse is highly desirable. Experience across peacekeeping, humanitarian, and development contexts is an asset. Able to handle sensitive issues, including by maintaining confidentiality and discretion in handling sensitive information.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required; fluency in French is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.