Job Description
Description of assignment title; Senior Lawyer
Expected start date; 01/05/2025
Sustainable Development Goal; 16. Peace, justice and strong institutions
Volunteer category; National UN Volunteer Expert
Host entity; UNDP
Duration; 12 months (with possibility of extension)
Duty stations; Peshawar
Mission and objectives
UNDP works with the Government and people of Pakistan to develop local solutions to development challenges. In an evolving development context, we support Pakistan’s efforts to build a more equitable, prosperous, peaceful and resilient society, and to achieve its SDGs and COP25 targets. UNDP promotes transformational change by fostering strategic partnerships with national counterparts in the federal, provincial and regional governments, civil society, the private sector and the local and international community. UNDP supports transformational change by providing technical assistance focusing on developing capacity within national and local authorities, providing solutions with strong monitoring and evaluation tools, and delivering programmes with maximum efficiency, transparency and accountability. UNDP’s ultimate goal is to improve the lives of the people of Pakistan through keeping people out of poverty; governance for peaceful, just and inclusive societies; crisis prevention and increased resilience; nature-based solutions for development; clean affordable energy; and women's empowerment and gender equality.
Context
UNDP works to improve the lives of vulnerable communities, with the overarching objective of preventing loss of development gains, promoting human rights, and finding sustainable pathways to development. UNDP projects under the democratic governance portfolio aims to strengthen state institutions, support democratic development and the rule of law, ensure crisis prevention, support policy development, and integrate gender equality into all areas of work. UNDP works to support the human rights ecosystem by strengthening human rights institutions to promote and protect human rights for all. This UNV assignment is part of UNDP Pakistan’s Decentralization, Human Rights and Local Governance (DHL) project. The DHL project is a multi-sector project aimed at strengthening rights-based development, community stabilization, gender equality, and social inclusion across all regions and provinces of Pakistan. The core objective of the project is to ensure inclusive and equitable service delivery by providing technical assistance and capacity development support to relevant federal ministries, provincial line departments, statutory bodies, civil society, and private sector organizations. A key aim is to support the creation of an enabling environment for accelerated access to rights, people-centered justice, and people-centered security. The project focuses on institution building while connecting with vulnerable and at-risk communities to build trust between rights holders and duty bearers for inclusive, expeditious, and transparent access to rights and services. Under its Business & Human Rights programme, UNDP-DHL has since 2018 supported the advancement of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) in Pakistan, with the aim of ensuring human rights and gender equality across all forms of business activity. This includes technical assistance to the Government of Pakistan at federal and provincial levels for the development and implementation of the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAP-BHR). UNDP-DHL also engages government entities, regulators, and the private sector for the uptake of human rights due diligence (HRDD) as a key best practice to respect human rights across Pakistani value chains. Finally, the project supports NHRIs, civil society, workers, and human rights defenders to increase access to remedy for rights-holders and promote accountability when business activity leads to human rights violations. The incumbent UNV will be stationed at the KP Ombudsperson Head Office in Peshawar and support its pro bono legal services to women complainants and people from marginalised communities as part of the legal, policy, and redressal mandate of the Ombudsperson.
Task description
Support efforts for the pro bono legal services to women complainants and people from the marginalised communities and support activities of Ombudsperson office under its legal and policy mandate • Provide the required technical support to the Ombudsperson legal team and interns on the Pro Bono Desk regarding the relevant laws and court system and its procedures. • Support the Pro Bono Lawyers Desk in the file review, preparing a case summary of the case with the Ombudsperson for Protection of Women against Harassment at the Workplace, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa & the Enforcement of Women Property Rights Act, 2019. • Provide comprehensive information to the Pro Bono Lawyers in developing and assembling documentation for finalizing the cases. • Guide the Pro Bono Lawyers and interns about the jurisdiction for possible referral to the relevant service provider. • Maintain a record related to her/his scope of work. • Liaise with other staff of Ombudsperson for Protection of Women against Harassment at the Workplace, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for capacity development training and awareness sessions on the role of Ombudsperson office to combat harassment at the workplace. • Prepare briefs and summaries about cases and activities for the Provincial Treaty Implementation Cell ensuring institutional reporting in the periodic reports. • As representative of Ombudsperson office support alignment of NAP-BHR implementation, monitoring, and reporting with GSP+ compliance • Closely coordinate with other relevant stakeholders to ensure coordinated efforts in access to justice. Conduct research on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Enforcement of Women’s Property Rights Act, 2019 • Assist Ombudsperson office in ongoing review and analysis of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Enforcement of Women’s Property Rights Act,2019, RoBs, and institutional framework for promoting women’s rights to property and ownership as well as implementation of the Act. • Conduct high-quality research and analysis on relevant topics under the NAP-BHR, especially human rights due diligence with gender perspective, grievance mechanisms, environmental justice and climate impacts in relation to women, and other priority areas of the KP Women Policy and CEDAW in the context of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa • Support Ombudsperson office in developing knowledge products and publications to raise visibility of its activities to promote gender sensitive practices in public and private institutions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa • Prepare weekly updates for the state of Business & Human Rights and institutional jurisdiction as guided by the Ombudsperson. Build partnerships with other key stakeholders to promote the corporate responsibility to respect gender sensitivity and safe working places in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. • Develop and maintain strong relationships and strategic linkages with national and provincial institutions, Chambers of Commerce, industry associations, and other private sector entities. • Work closely with the Institutional Coordination and Referral Mechanism (ICRM) to coordinate its efforts in facilitating cases of Gender Based Violence and harassment at the workplace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. • Support the Ombudsperson office in leading regular meetings of the ICRM conducting required background research, drafting agenda, taking minutes, and coordinating with other members from the 13 National & Provincial Human Rights Institutions at Provincial Level. • Lead consultations, workshops, seminars, and other awareness-raising and capacity-development events led by the Ombudsperson Office related to NAP-BHR implementation • Closely engage National & Provincial Human Rights Institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs), environmental human rights defenders, community leaders, and other relevant stakeholders for a participatory and inclusive approach to NAP-BHR implementation, monitoring, and reporting • Identify gaps and challenges in the implementation of the Protection of Women Against Harassment at the Workplace Act, 2010 and effective functioning of Standing Inquiry Committees • Build and regularly maintain a database of key contacts relevant to Standing Inquiry Committees for the monitoring purposes. Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing and advocacy relevant to women rights including in relation to business activity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. • Plan and organize events, including press conferences, briefings, trainings, report launches, public forums related to human rights issues etc. • Participate in knowledge networks and consultations with international organizations and CSOs • Collaborate with relevant partners, stakeholders, and UNDP to raise awareness, engage in policy dialogues, and advocate for meaningful change in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Eligibility criteria
Age; 18 - 80
Required experience; 7 years
Nationality; Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.
Assignment requirements
Relevant experience; 2 years
Languages; English, Level: Working knowledge, Required
Required education level; Bachelor degree or equivalent in Law (LLB or JD)
Competencies and values
• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management
Skills and experience;National and/or international level as a lawyer, in legal research, litigation, or legal advocacy especially in context of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Area(s) of expertise; Legal affairs
Living conditions and remarks
As this is a national UNV assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. UNV Field Unit will help you open a Pak rupee bank account with Standard Chartered Bank or any other local bank at your duty station.
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
How to Apply: click the below link to apply online for this position and upload current and updated Resume prior to the deadline for this role: https://app.unv.org/opportunities/1784458550769920?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=impactpool