National Legal Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women is the lead UN entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. Established in July 2010, UN Women was created as part of the UN reform agenda to consolidate resources and mandates for greater impact on gender equality. The organization operates globally, focusing on closing the gender gap and building an equal world for all women and girls. UN Women partners with governments, women’s movements, and the private sector to translate progress into lasting changes. The organization emphasizes four key areas: leadership, economic empowerment, freedom from violence, and women, peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, as well as humanitarian action. UN Women is committed to keeping the rights of women and girls at the center of global progress, advocating for policies and practices that promote gender equality and empower women economically and socially.

Job Overview:
The National Legal Consultant will play a crucial role in conducting a comprehensive review of Armenian legislation concerning violence and harassment in the world of work. This position is part of the Women’s Economic Empowerment in the South Caucasus (WEESC) Phase III project, which aims to create an enabling environment for women’s economic empowerment through improved laws, policies, and institutional practices. The consultant will assess the alignment of national legislation with ILO Convention No. 190 and provide actionable recommendations to strengthen legal frameworks. The consultant will work closely with national stakeholders and report to the WEESC Project Analyst of UN Women in Armenia, contributing to the operationalization of international labor standards and enhancing the protection of women’s rights in the workplace.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct a comprehensive review of Armenia’s existing legal and regulatory framework relevant to violence and harassment in the world of work, including labor legislation, occupational safety and health regulations, anti-discrimination laws, and relevant bylaws and policies.
• Assess the alignment of national legislation with ILO Convention No. 190 and Recommendation No. 206, focusing on gender-based violence and harassment.
• Develop clear, actionable recommendations to align Armenian legislation with ILO Convention No. 190, proposing amendments to existing laws and outlining the need for new legal or policy instruments.
• Engage with relevant national stakeholders, including government institutions and civil society organizations, to validate findings and recommendations.
• Prepare and submit a comprehensive legal review report detailing methodology, key findings, identified gaps, and recommendations for legislative alignment with ILO Convention No. 19
• Create a legal mapping table linking Convention provisions with corresponding national laws and proposed amendments.
• Identify gaps, inconsistencies, and implementation challenges in the current legal framework in relation to the Convention’s requirements.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in law (international law, labor law, human rights law, gender and equality law, or a related legal field) is required. A first-level university degree in law combined with two additional years of qualifying professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.
• At least 7 years of relevant professional experience with a bachelor’s degree or 5 years with a master’s degree in legal analysis, legislative review, and legal or policy reform related to labor law, human rights, gender equality, or violence against women.
• Demonstrated experience in reviewing and drafting or proposing amendments to national legislation in labor relations, non-discrimination, occupational safety and health, or prevention of violence and harassment.
• Proven experience working with international legal instruments and standards, particularly ILO conventions and/or international human rights treaties; experience with ILO Convention No. 190 is a strong asset.
• Experience engaging with government institutions, social partners, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders in legal or policy reform processes.
• Proven experience in applying gender-responsive legal analysis and policy recommendations.
• Proficiency in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.); experience in handling document management systems is required.
• Excellent analytical, drafting, and report-writing skills.

Educational Background:
The position requires a Master’s degree or equivalent in law, specifically in fields such as international law, labor law, human rights law, gender and equality law, or a related legal field. In cases where candidates possess a first-level university degree in law, they must also have two additional years of qualifying professional experience to be considered for the role. This educational background is essential to ensure that the consultant has the necessary legal expertise to conduct a thorough review of Armenian legislation and provide informed recommendations.

Experience:
Candidates must have a minimum of 7 years of relevant professional experience if they hold a bachelor’s degree, or at least 5 years of experience if they possess a master’s degree. This experience should be in areas such as legal analysis, legislative review, and legal or policy reform related to labor law, human rights, gender equality, or violence against women. The consultant should have demonstrated experience in reviewing and drafting national legislation, particularly in the context of labor relations, non-discrimination, and occupational safety and health. Proven experience working with international legal instruments, especially ILO conventions, is highly desirable, as is experience in engaging with various stakeholders in legal or policy reform processes.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Armenian is required for this position. The ability to communicate effectively in both languages is essential for conducting stakeholder consultations, preparing reports, and ensuring that all deliverables are accessible to a diverse audience. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset but is not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is home-based and will be conducted in Yerevan, Armenia, with no travel required. The consultant will be expected to deliver all reports and documentation in both Armenian and English. The position is part-time and will involve a series of deliverables with specific deadlines, including an inception note, legal mapping and gap analysis matrix, draft legal review and recommendations report, stakeholder consultation summary, and a final legal review and alignment report. The consultant will work under the supervision of the WEESC Project Analyst and will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures, including a commitment to integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity.