International Consultant
Alert
Vacancy
NOTE: This is a consultancy assignment with an expected duration of approximately 55 working days.
The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to play a vital role in strengthening the country’s ability to foster a sustainable and stable security environment, to strengthen Bosnia and Herzegovina’s governance, and to encourage its consolidation as a democratic society. The Mission supports political and education reform and works to promote and protect human rights of all citizens of BiH.
Assisting BiH in dealing with its legacy of war crimes cases has been a priority of the OSCE Mission to BiH (the Mission) since its inception. Through the establishment of its trial monitoring programme, the Mission has monitored and reported on the progress of the processing of war crimes cases throughout BiH, with particular focus on the adherence to the goals for case completion established under the National Strategy on the Processing of War Crimes (the Strategy), adopted in 2009 and revised in 2020. The Strategy established the preconditions necessary to process the most complex war crimes cases within seven years and the other cases within 15 years, namely that an increased number of war crimes investigations were to be transferred to cantonal and district jurisdictions for processing. The current revised Strategy foresees the completion of all war crimes cases of the highest priority by 2023.
In February 2014, the Mission signed a grant contract with the European Commission implementing the OSCE War Crimes Monitoring Project (WCMP) with the main objective of supporting and advising the EU Delegation to BiH in monitoring war crimes case processing and in tracking and verifying the overall progress to ensure attainment of goals of case resolution under the IPA budgetary support. Since its implementation, the WCMP has worked with Mission monitors in field offices throughout BiH to gather and assess data on the processing of war crimes cases and report its findings to international and national stakeholders, including the EU Delegation to BiH, the Supervisory Body for the Implementation of the Strategy, and the beneficiary prosecutors’ offices and courts. The reports detail the statistical results in resolution of war crimes cases, as well as the achievements and challenges in processing cases that have been assessed though the monitoring function of the project.
Objective
The Mission is seeking to engage an international consultant that will direct the development of a case study/manual, in conjunction with the Mission’s WCMP, based on lessons learned from the duration of the processing of war crimes in BiH, primarily focused on processing from the time of the commencement of implementation of the IPA support.
Tasks and Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Mission WCMP Monitoring and Reporting Officer, should you be selected for the position, you will perform the following duties:
1. Undertaking necessary preparations to familiarise yourself with the processing of war crimes cases in BiH, including review of legislation and reports on processing produced by the Mission and other sources;
2. With the assistance of WCMP staff, gathering additional information and conducting interviews with representatives of judicial institutions, in particular at POs and courts, on the practice in processing of war crimes cases;
3. Working with WCMP to draft outline and substantive materials of the case study/manual;
4. Reviewing and finalizing the case study/manual throughout internal clearance process;
5. Providing inputs and participate in the organization of the public presentation of the case study;
6. Providing inputs for media coverage.
NOTE: You will work from your office or home for the majority of the time, but should the situation in BiH allow, you will travel to BiH.
Deliverables and performance indicators:
- Interviews with representatives of judicial institutions, in particular at POs and courts, on the practice in processing of war crimes cases conducted and additional information gathered;
- Final version of the case study/manual prepared;
- Public presentation of the case study/manual prepared and delivered;
- Media coverage inputs prepared.
For more information on the work of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, please see: https://www.osce.org/mission-to-bosnia-and-Herzegovina.
Necessary Qualifications
- Advanced University degree in law;
- Minimum 8 years of relevant professional experience in the field, preferably with experience in international organizations;
- Extensive knowledge of domestic and international criminal and human rights law;
- Excellent knowledge of legal issues related to war crimes processing in Bosnia and Herzegovina and its justice system, substantive and procedural criminal legislation, and relevant case law;
- Prior experience with trial monitoring or managing trial monitoring operations;
- Prior experience in drafting analytical reports on processing of complex criminal cases is an asset;
- Excellent writing and reporting skills;
- Excellent communication skills, including the ability to present complex or sensitive topics in a clear and understandable manner;
- Professional fluency in English, both oral and written.
Remuneration Package
Remuneration will depend on the selected consultant’s qualifications and experience and be in accordance with OSCE established rates.
How To Apply
The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages the nomination of qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious, ethnic and social backgrounds.
All candidates must apply online, using the OSCE online application link, found under https://jobs.osce.org. Please note that applications received after the deadline, submitted in different formats than the OSCE Online Application Form or in other languages than the English language would not be considered.
Only short listed candidates will be contacted.
The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, or offer the position with modified terms of reference or a different duration.
Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.