UN WOMEN Jobs - 116321- International Consultant (2024)

Background

The AU High Level Presidential Initiative on Positive Masculinity in Leadership to End Violence Against Women and Girls in Africa was established in 2020 with a view to mobilize political commitment and action at the highest level of the AU leadership and decision-making to prevent and end VAWG in Africa. It is comprised of the AU Chairpersons (current, former and incoming); AU Gender Champions; African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) and the AU Commission - Cabinet of the AUC Chairperson; Office of the Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security (Convener and Facilitator) and the Women, Gender and Youth Directorate (Secretariat). The Initiative is operationalized through two platforms. Notably, the Presidential Working Group (PWG) on Positive Masculinity convened and facilitated, on behalf of the AUC Chairperson, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, by the Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security (SP-WPS), H.E. Madam Bineta Diop as well as the Partners Platform (PP), made up of representatives of relevant United Nations Agencies and International Development Partners (IDPs). Both enjoy the secretarial support from the Women, Gender and Youth Directorate (WGYD) and the Office of the Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security (OSE-WPS).

On 25 November, 2021, the first AU Men’s Conference on Positive Masculinity in Leadership to End Violence Against Women and Girls was convened online and in-person in Kinshasa, DRC, under the leadership of H.E. Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the AU 2021 Chairperson. It was held in collaboration with H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa President of the Republic of South Africa and the AU 2020 Chairperson; H.E. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal; H.E. Nana Dokua Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana and the AU Leader on Gender and Development Issues in Africa; and H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, the AUC Chairperson. The Conference was also hosted in partnership with the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) under the leadership of its Patron, H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former President of the Republic of Liberia. Attended by AU Heads of States of the Congo Republic, DRC, Ethiopia,

Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Togo, the Inaugural AU Men’s Conference adopted the Kinshasa Declaration and Call for Action, which among other actions, enjoins AU Heads of State to “adopt and implement an African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls that will serve as a legal framework to end violence against women and girls in Africa”. The Kinshasa Declaration and Call to Action was subsequently adopted as an AU Assembly Decision (Assembly/ AU/Dec.819. XXXV) of the 35th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union of Heads of State and Government in February 2022. The same decision institutionalized the Office of the Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security. The Assembly also appointed H.E. President Felix Tshisekedi as the first AU Champion on Positive Masculinity (Assembly/AU/Dec.837. XXXV).

The Second Men's Conference on Positive Masculinity in Leadership to End Violence Against Women and Girls was held from 10 to 11 November, 2022 in Dakar, Senegal under the leadership of H.E. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal and 2022 AU Chairperson. The Conference was organized in collaboration with H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa and AU Chairperson in 2020, H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former President of the Republic of Liberia and the Patron of the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) with H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Chairperson of the AU Commission (AUC), facilitated by H.E. Bineta Diop, AU Special Envoy for Women, Peace and Security. The outcome of the 2nd Men’s Conference, the Dakar Call to Action, seeks to accelerate implementation of the Kinshasa Declaration on Positive Masculinity, which was adopted during the Inaugural Men’s Conference. The 2022 Dakar Call to Action was subsequently adopted as an Executive Council decision (EX.CL/Dec.1190 (XLII)) and commits AU Member States to “engage our peers and Heads of State and Government of the African Union to facilitate, negotiate and adopt, within one year, the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls.

Drawing from the outcomes of the two conferences, the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government during their 36th Assembly held from 18 to 19 February 2023 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, adopted a decision (Assembly/AU/Dec.865(XXXVI) to negotiate the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls. This historic decision is one of the critical commitments under the Dakar Call to Action on Positive Masculinity in Leadership to End Violence Against Women and Girls in Africa.

The 3rd AU Men’s Conference was held from 27 to 28 November 2023 in Pretoria, South Africa under the joint leadership of H.E. President Azali Assoumani of the Union of the Comoros, and 2023 AU Chairperson as well as H.E. President Cyril Ramaphosa of the Republic of South Africa, who was AU Chairperson in 2020. As in previous conferences, the 3rd Men’s Conference was convened in collaboration with the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) under its Patron, H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former President of Liberia and the AU Circle of Champions on Positive Masculinity. It was facilitated by H.E. Bineta Diop, AUC Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security and the secretarial support of the Women, Gender and Youth Directorate (WGYD) under the leadership of H.E Moussa Faki Mahamat, AUC Chairperson. The 3rd Men’s Conference adopted its outcome document, i.e. the Moroni and Pretoria Road to the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls”. This was subsequently adopted as an Assembly decision (Assembly/AU/DEC.882 (XXXVII)) during the 37th Summit of AU Heads of State in February, 2024 and commits to “xpedite the negotiations of the AU Convention on EVAWG in preparation for its consideration for adoption by the AU Summit in February 2025.

In addition and in furtherance of the above commitments, the Assembly of the AU Heads of State during their 37th Summit in February, 2024 held a Presidential Debate on Positive Masculinity, where the outcomes of the 3rd Men’s Conference were presented. The debate led by H.E. President Cyril Ramaphosa, H.E. President Azali Assoumani and H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, with the support of the AU Circle of Champions on Positive Masculinity, reaffirmed support towards the process of negotiating and adopting as well as ratifying the AU CEVAWG. In this regard, the Assembly adopted a decision (Assembly/AU/DEC.881 (XXXVII)) on the “report of the 3rd AU Men’s Conference on Positive Masculinity in Leadership to End Violence Against Women and Girls, which among others, commits the Heads of States to “support and conclude the negotiations and submit the draft Convention for adoption by this Assembly in February 2025.

In light of the above, the Presidential Initiative on Positive Masculinity seeks to engage a Legal Expert to lead the drafting of the AU CEVAWG. Working with the Reference Group of Legal and Gender Experts, the Expert will initiate the drafting and subsequent revisions, editing and finalization of the draft Convention and prepare it for handing over to the Member States experts for negotiations.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Legal Expert will be seconded to the High-Level Presidential Initiative on Positive Masculinity to End VAWG, under the facilitation of the Special Envoy (SE) on Women, Peace and Security (WPS). With direct supervision by the SE and working in close collaboration with WGYD and in consultation with the Reference Group of Legal and Gender Experts, the Legal Expert will:

• Prepare a comprehensive draft of the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, which is relevant to the African context that aligns with continental and international human rights standards.
• Lead the initiation, drafting and subsequent revisions, editing and finalization of the draft AU CEVAWG, ensuring clear and simple language to facilitate easy and unambiguous interpretation in accordance to AU guidelines of drafting international statues.
• Guided by the findings of the 2023 research on the EVAWG convention, outcomes of the multi-stakeholder consultations and the 3rd Men’s Conference as well as the Position Paper on Positive Masculinity and any other relevant regional and international instruments on EVAWG and women’s human rights, define the scope of the AU CEVAWG.
• Outline key thematic areas to be covered under the CEVAWG including defining different forms of violations, i.e. physical, economic, social, cultural, psychological, etc. as well as protection and accountability mechanisms.
• Consult with the Office of the Legal Counsel, the AU Commission on International Law,
• relevant Specialized Technical Committees (STCs) and any other relevant structures of the AU to ensure compliance with AU procedures and requirements for development of international statutes.
• Incorporate comments and inputs received from relevant stakeholders to ensure that the CEVAWG is Africa-led, Africa-owned and reflects the aspirations of the Africa people.
• Organize and manage all meetings of the Reference Group, preparing reports and other documents, including draft and final versions of the CEVAWG and coordinating regular communication.
• Prepare briefing notes, presentations and all relevant documents for consideration by AU Policy Organs including, among others STC- GEWE Bureau; STC GEWE; STC Legal and Justice Affairs, etc
• Lead the implementation of all activities as outlined in the CEVAWG Roadmap, up to the adoption of the Convention by the next AU Summit in February 2025.
• Prepare a roadmap to take the CEVAWG forward after Assembly adoption beyond February, 2025
• Perform other relevant duties as required.

Competencies

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Leading by Example

PleasevisitthislinkformoreinformationonUNWomen’sCoreValues and Competencies:https://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment/application-process#_Values

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Advanced university degree in the field of Law, International Relations.

Experience

• More than 10 years’ experience in the legal field with specialization in legal drafting, interpretation of statues, policy analysis and development.
• Demonstrated knowledge of international and regional human rights system, women’s rights
• and gender equality
• Strong knowledge and technical expertise on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls,
• Positive Masculinity, Women’s Human Rights and related fields. e. Knowledge of the development context in the African continent.
• Strong analytical, communication and problem-solving skills as well as experience in working in a multicultural environment.
• Strong coordination skills with ability manage different interest groups and stakeholders.
• Experience in a similar assignment is desirable.

Language

• Proficiency in English is required.
• Knowledge of French or other African Union working language(s) would be an added advantage