[Hiring] Family Law and Legal Reform Expert @UN Women

Role Description

The overall objective of this assignment is to strengthen the legal recognition and protection of single mothers in Bosnia and Herzegovina through gender-responsive legal analysis, evidence-based policy recommendations and technical support for the development and consultation of proposed amendments to applicable family laws.

Specifically, the Consultant will:

• Conduct a gender-responsive review of applicable family legislation and other relevant legal and policy frameworks affecting single mothers;
• Identify legal, policy and implementation gaps related to the recognition, protection and socio-economic position of single mothers;
• Assess relevant linkages between family law, labour rights, social protection, anti-discrimination frameworks and care policies;
• Prepare recommendations for legislative and policy amendments aligned with international human rights and gender equality standards;
• Undertake comparative legal and policy analysis to identify relevant international, in particular EU, and regional good practices and assess their potential applicability in Bosnia and Herzegovina;
• Assess selected aspects of practical implementation of relevant legal rights and protections, including through institutional procedures and employer-level policies and practices;
• Integrate social protection and care economy considerations into proposed legal and policy reforms;
• Facilitate consultations with institutions, civil society organisations and other relevant stakeholders;
• Support the finalisation and presentation of draft legislative amendments;
• Provide targeted legal and policy advisory support related to the subject matter of the assignment throughout its implementation.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Law, Human Rights, Gender Studies, Public Policy or another relevant discipline.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• At least 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in legislative drafting, legal analysis or policy development.
• Demonstrated experience in family law, human rights law or gender equality legislation, evidenced by at least two relevant assignments in the last three years.
• Demonstrated experience facilitating multi-stakeholder consultations involving public institutions, civil society organisations, women’s rights organisations, academia or other relevant stakeholders, evidenced by at least three relevant processes in the last five years.
• Demonstrated experience integrating gender equality and international human rights standards into legislative or policy processes, evidenced by at least two relevant assignments.
• Previous experience working with UN agencies, EU-funded programmes or other international organisations is considered an asset.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian is required.

Requirements

• Conduct a comprehensive gender-responsive review of applicable family legislation and relevant labour, social protection, anti-discrimination and care-related legal and policy frameworks affecting the legal status, rights, protection and socio-economic position of single mothers;
• Analyse relevant legal provisions, definitions, rights, obligations, procedures and implementation arrangements, and identify gaps or inconsistencies affecting women’s access to rights, social protection and services;
• Assess alignment with relevant international human rights and gender equality standards, including CEDAW and the Istanbul Convention and EU legal provisions for single mothers;
• Assess linkages and policy coherence between family legislation, social protection systems and care policies;
• Identify priority areas for legal and policy reform based on the findings of the review;
• Prepare recommendations for strengthening implementation, institutional coordination and policy coherence.

Benefits

• This is a home-based consultancy. Travel to Sarajevo and/or other locations in Bosnia and Herzegovina may be required.
• Any travel required for the performance of the assignment will be arranged and covered by UN Women in accordance with applicable UN Women rules and procedures.

Company Description

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.