National Consultant
Alert
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Vacancy
NOTE: This is a consultancy assignment with an expected duration of approximately 30 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 with its legacy of war crimes has been a priority of the OSCE Mission to BiH (the Mission) since its inception. However, serious impediments remain to the fair, efficient, and effective processing of war crimes cases in line with international standards. To fill these gaps, the Mission provides assistance for the training needs of the judges, prosecutors, legal staff, investigators, and witness support officers.
The War Crimes Monitoring Project (WCMP) is an OSCE extra-budgetary project implemented since 2014 and funded by the EU that monitors and advises judicial institutions on the processing of war crimes cases. Additionally, the project provides targeted education and skills training for practitioners to address needs and issues that are identified through the OSCE monitoring of cases. One issue that has been identified in relation to the effective prosecution of war crimes cases is the delay in the length of proceedings of war crimes cases in the trial phase. War crimes trials in BiH, by their very nature, are complicated, often involving many participants and a great deal of evidence. Effective management of war crimes cases is a key to ensuring that trials are carried out in line with fair trial standards. In a report written by Judge Joanna Korner, QC, and published by the OSCE in 2020, Judge Korner stated that the length of trials at the state-level court must be reduced and provided recommendations for improving the management of trials.
Objective
The Mission is seeking to engage a national consultant to direct the implementation of the needs assessment of trial management practices in war crimes cases in conjunction with the Mission’s WCMP.
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 management of war crimes trials in the courts in BiH (at the state and entity-level), including review of documents 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 courts, on the practice in the management of war crimes trials in courts in BiH (at the state and entity-level);
3. Based on the information gathered, completing a needs assessment on the management of war crimes trials in courts in BiH (at the state and entity-level) that focuses on an analysis of key trends in challenges in current practice.
Deliverables and performance indicators:
- Interviews with representatives of judicial institutions, in particular at courts, on the practice of management of war crimes trials conducted and additional information gathered;
- Interview questionnaires and other documents related to interviews prepared;
- Final version of the needs assessment 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 10 years of relevant professional experience in the field, preferably with experience as a judge in BiH courts;
- 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;
- Excellent writing and reporting skills;
- Excellent communication skills, including the ability to present complex or sensitive topics in a clear and understandable manner;
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and in the local languages.
Remuneration Package
Remuneration will depend on the selected consultant’s qualifications and experience and be in accordance with OSCE established rates.
How To Apply
This position is open to citizens and permanent residents of Bosnia and Herzegovina only.
If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's online application link found under http://www.osce.org/employment. Please note that offline applications submitted via email, fax, or mail will not be considered.
Only short listed candidates will be contacted.
The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, to offer an appointment at a lower grade or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration.
The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization.
Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.