Expert on the Right to Effective Defense

Alert

You can not apply to this vacancy anymore.
Sorry, the application deadline for this vacancy has expired.

Check the list of current vacancies

Our field operations, institutions and units are constantly looking for talented profiles.

See our current vacancies
OSCE job notifications

Subscribe to our vacancy alerts and get notifications in your email box.

Subscribe to job notifications
Learn more about our work

From fixed term contracts to internships and a Junior Professional Officer programme, find out what fits you best.
More information

Archived vacancy details

The following information is provided for archival purpose only.

Issued by: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
Vacancy number: VNODIC00718
Vacancy type: Experts/Consultants
Field of expertise: Rule of Law
Duty station: Warsaw
Date of issue: 23 May 2018
Deadline for application: 28 May 2018 - 23:59 Central European Time (CET/CEST)

Background:

		The OSCE/ODIHR Rule of Law Unit (RoL) is looking for a local Expert on the right to a fair trial and rights of victims in Belarusian legislation and practice, to prepare short presentations and questions to support the discussion on the topic of the assigned sessions and deliver the presentations and co-facilitate related group work by participants at two one-day seminars in Minsk. ODIHR’s Rule of Law Unit is part of the Democratization Department and is tasked with supporting OSCE participating States in fulfilling their OSCE commitments in the area of trial monitoring, criminal justice reform, judicial independence, gender, diversity and justice and administrative justice. In January 2018, OSCE/ODIHR began implementing the EU-funded project Promoting Democratization and Human Rights in Belarus. The project has three components, one of which has as its objective to strengthen the capacity of legal professionals in Belarus on rule of law issues. As an OSCE participating State, Belarus has committed itself to a number of rule of law-related obligations, most notably to “support and advance those principles of justice which form the basis of the rule of law” (Copenhagen 1990). These commitments include the recognition that “all action by public authorities must be consistent with the rule of law” (Budapest 1994). ODIHR’s mandate provides for facilitating contacts between participating States, civil society, and other experts; developing co-operation and working closely with other institutions active in the field of human rights and rule of law; organizing meetings and seminars; and facilitating co-operation in training and education (Prague 1992). In the context of the rule of law component of the project, ODIHR will co-organize a number of thematic seminars together with the Institute for Retraining and Qualification of Judges at the Belarus State University which will form an integral part of the 2018 and 2019 training programmes for judges and other legal professionals of the Institute. Thematic seminars will be held for one full day, and will include presentations by experts and practitioners dedicated to one particular seminar topic. The seminars will focus on rule of law topics relevant for the Belarusian context and will be organized jointly with the Institute. Topics will be determined based on the assessed need(s) of justice professionals, including judges, lawyers and prosecutors. ODIHR will further contribute to the organization of the seminars by bringing international experts to Minsk. Presentations and discussions will focus on current law and practice, as well as international standards and comparative law and practice from other countries within Eastern Europe and beyond. All seminars will be inclusive and interactive with presentations and discussions held in the Belarusian and/or Russian language, with simultaneous translation to English where relevant. The first seminar, which will be repeated on two separate days (19 June and 20 June) for two separate audiences of 25 participants each (judges and investigators) will be held on the topic of the right to a fair trial in criminal proceedings. ODIHR is therefore recruiting a consultant to provide specialised inputs for this seminar, and to deliver certain sessions. Objective: The objective of this consultancy is to ensure that participants of the first seminar of the rule of law component of the project Promoting Democratization and Human Rights in Belarus are aware of the Belarusian legal framework and practice related to the right to effective defence of the defendant and are therefore better able to identify appropriate ways to overcome current challenges and to uphold and reinforce fair trial rights in criminal proceedings in Belarus in line with OSCE commitments.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

		Under the overall supervision of the Rule of Law Unit, the Expert will: Prepare three short presentations and questions to support the discussion, integrating a gender perspective throughout, on the topics of the assigned sessions (Session 2: Equality of arms in criminal proceedings in Belarus; Session 3: Right to effective defense of the defendant in Belarusian legislation and practice; Session 5: Right of victims/injured parties to legal assistance in Belarus) for the Seminar on the Right to a Fair Trial in Criminal Proceedings by 4 June 2018. Deliver the presentations in English, Russian or Belarusian as well as co-facilitate an activity prepared by an international expert (Case study on the right to effective defence) on 19-20 June 2018 in Minsk.

Necessary Qualifications:

		Advanced university degree in law, ideally paired with a higher academic title; A minimum of 4 years of relevant professional experience in the justice sector, experience as a defense counsel is desirable; Demonstrated thorough knowledge of the domestic legal framework applicable to criminal proceedings in Belarus; Demonstrated thorough knowledge of the modalities according to which the legal framework applicable to criminal proceedings in Belarus is applied in practice; Experience in designing and delivering trainings, instructional materials or lectures to justice sector professionals is desirable; Academic record, including research and analysis is an asset; Ability to apply gender analysis and to identify and address issues relevant to gender to this assignment; Solid command of Russian or Belarusian, including past experience delivering public speeches or presentations in any of these languages; Knowledge of English will be considered an asset; Computer literacy; Strong organizational and written and oral communication skills; Flexibility, ability to work under minimal supervision and deliver against tight deadlines.

Required competencies:

		Core values Commitment: Actively contributes to achieving organizational goals Diversity: Respects others and values their diverse perspectives and contributions Integrity: Acts in a manner consistent with the Organization’s core values and organizational principles Accountability: Takes responsibility for own action and delegated work Core competencies Communication: Actively works to achieve clear and transparent communication with colleagues and with stakeholders of the Organization Collaboration: Works effectively with others on common goals and fosters a positive, trust-based working environment Planning: Works towards the achievement of goals in a structured and measured manner Analysis and decision-making: Analyses available information, draws well-founded conclusions and takes appropriate decisions Initiative-taking: Proposes and initiates new ideas, activities and projects Flexibility: Responds positively and effectively to changing circumstances Managerial competencies (for positions with managerial responsibilities) Leadership: Provides a clear sense of direction, builds trust and creates an enabling environment Strategic thinking: Identifies goals that advance the organizational agenda and develops plans for achieving them Managing performance: Helps to maximize team performance by providing active feedback and skill development opportunities

Remuneration Package:

		The assignment is for up to 2.5 working days between 30 May and 21 June 2018. Remuneration will depend on the selected consultant’s qualifications and experience and be in accordance with OSCE established rates. Remuneration for services will be payable at the end of the assignment and upon acceptance of all deliverables as reaching the required standard of quality by OSCE/ODIHR Democratization senior management in the manner described in the Terms of Reference. Travel expenses will be covered by ODIHR according to OSCE travel policy. Location: Home office and venue of the seminar in Minsk, Belarus

How To Apply:

		If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's online application link found under https://jobs.osce.org/vacancies. Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization. The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise the vacancy, cancel the recruitment, offer a consultancy at a different level or with modified terms of reference or for a different duration.