Access to Justice Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women was established in July 2010 as part of the UN reform agenda to enhance gender equality and women's empowerment. The organization merges the efforts of four previously distinct parts of the UN system, focusing on gender equality and women's empowerment. UN Women operates globally, with a mission to eliminate discrimination against women and girls, empower women, and achieve equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action, and peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security. The organization is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment, promoting mutual respect, and ensuring that all employment decisions are based on qualifications, competence, integrity, and organizational need. UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with its aims and objectives, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, and discrimination.

Job Overview:
The Access to Justice Consultant position at UN Women in Papua New Guinea is focused on enhancing the institutional capacity of medical, legal, and police service providers to deliver survivor-centered, gender-responsive, and coordinated services. The consultant will work on improving women's and girls' access to justice through strengthened referral pathways, quality probing/investigative services, rehabilitation support, and psychosocial services. The role is critical in addressing the weak medical-legal link in the justice referral pathway, which has contributed to low conviction rates for sexual violence cases. The consultant will engage with various stakeholders, including police, judiciary, health authorities, and civil society organizations, to assess and strengthen the capacity of these institutions to respond effectively to violence against women and girls. The overarching goal is to ensure that interventions align with Papua New Guinea's constitutional and legislative framework and comply with international human rights treaties.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for several key tasks, including:

• Conducting consultations with key stakeholders to gather insights and review existing policies and protocols related to violence against women and girls.
• Performing a rapid institutional capacity assessment to identify strengths, gaps, and priority development needs within the justice and health sectors.
• Developing a comprehensive capacity strengthening package that includes training on survivor-centered approaches, gender-responsive investigation, medical-legal documentation, and referral pathways.
• Designing and delivering capacity strengthening workshops for medical personnel, police officers, and legal practitioners.
• Engaging with the PNG Law Society and other relevant bodies to build capacity on prosecution and establish pro-bono service mechanisms for survivors.
• Developing a comprehensive final report documenting achievements, lessons learned, and recommendations for sustainability.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a Master's degree or equivalent in Law, human rights, gender/women's studies, international development, social sciences, or a related field. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Candidates should have a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in legal support focused on gender equality and women's empowerment, particularly in community mobilization and movement building. A proven track record in developing standard operating procedures, training manuals, or legal frameworks within the PNG health or justice sectors is essential. Familiarity with the Family Protection Act, SARV National Action Plan, and the National GBV Strategy is required, along with experience in facilitating high-level events and excellent coordination skills.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Master's degree or equivalent in relevant fields such as Law, human rights, gender/women's studies, international development, or social sciences. A first-level university degree may be accepted with additional qualifying experience. This educational background is crucial for understanding the legal frameworks and human rights standards applicable to the role.

Experience:
The consultant should have at least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in legal support, particularly in areas related to gender equality and women's empowerment. This includes a strong focus on ending violence against women and experience in community mobilization and movement building. Familiarity with the legal and health sectors in Papua New Guinea is highly desirable, as is experience working with government agencies and the UN system.

Languages:
Excellent verbal and written English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of Tok Pisin is considered a bonus, as it may facilitate communication with local stakeholders and enhance the effectiveness of the consultant's work.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is based in Port Moresby, with expected travel to the field. The consultant will work under the overall leadership of the Country Representative and direct supervision of the Deputy Country Representative. The consultancy will involve various tasks with specific deliverables and timeframes, including inception reports, capacity assessment reports, training materials, and a final consultancy report. The position is full-time and may involve collaboration with multiple stakeholders, including UN Women, UNFPA, and UNOPS.