[Hiring] Consultant – Analysis of Evidentiary Issues in Sexual Violence Cases @Equality Now

Role Description

Consultant – Analysis of Evidentiary Issues in Sexual Violence Cases

Duration: Up to 12 working days in the period of June - November 2026

Location: Remote +/-5 hours GMT

Reporting to: Associate Director of Gender-based Violence

Qualifications

• Law degree.
• Demonstrable experience as a practitioner or former practitioner, including as an investigator, prosecutor, judge or lawyer, with direct experience working on sexual violence cases, including representing survivors or handling such cases, in one or more of the above-mentioned jurisdictions.
• Excellent written legal, analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Exceptional written legal communication skills, including experience producing high-quality research reports for legal advocacy.
• Proficiency in English.
• Ability to work independently and remotely.

Requirements

• Identify key categories of evidence used in your country or region to substantiate the crime of sexual violence, including:
  • Testimonial evidence;
  • Evidence that challenges the credibility of the accused or defense witnesses;
  • Evidence of coercion, coercive circumstances, and contextual factors that may negate free and voluntary consent;
  • Evidence of the impact of sexual violence on survivors;
  • Expert evidence, including medical, psychological, and forensic examinations;
  • Evidence specific to survivors with psycho-social disabilities.
• Examine legal and practical barriers affecting the use and interpretation of evidence, including:
  • Rules on admissibility and relevance;
  • Judicial approaches to weighing and interpreting evidence;
  • The role of contextualisation in assessing facts and survivor behavior;
  • Corroboration requirements and other practices that, in effect, shift the burden onto victims;
  • Evidentiary rules and/or practices that may reinforce harmful stereotypes and create barriers to effective investigation and prosecution, such as the use of a survivor’s sexual history.
• Propose reforms, strategies, or examples of effective practice that address the identified challenges.
• Verify that all research is accurate, current, and reflects the most up-to-date legal frameworks in each country or jurisdiction referenced.
• Provide credible sources and references, including citations to laws, judicial decisions, case law, articles, and other materials. Include relevant page or paragraph numbers. Where online sources are used, include active hyperlinks.
• Consultants may be invited to attend a workshop to support the finalization of the guide, tentatively scheduled for September 2026 in Istanbul.

Benefits

• Equality Now will pay consultants USD 300 per day for up to 7 days of work for the first draft deliverable.
• An additional 3-5 days to address Equality Now’s comments and feedback on the draft deliverable.
• This amount includes all applicable taxes.
• Payment will be made as a lump sum upon submission of the completed written deliverable.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should submit a single PDF document in English containing:

• A CV (maximum three pages), clearly demonstrating experience as a practitioner or former practitioner, including as an investigator, prosecutor, judge or lawyer, with direct experience working on sexual violence cases, including representing survivors or handling such cases.
• A technical proposal of three to four pages outlining:
  • Understanding of the assignment;
  • Proposed scope and areas of focus, including country or region they propose to cover;
  • Any specific thematic expertise relevant to the consultancy (e.g., consent-based frameworks, evidentiary reform, survivors with disabilities, etc.);
  • Any particular evidentiary issues or developments they believe warrant focused analysis;
  • Proposed methodology;
  • Work plan and timeline;
  • A sample of comparable reports produced;
  • Names and contact information for two professional references.

Please visit the EN website to apply: Equality Now Jobs

Deadline for applications: 27 May 2026