Individual Contractor (Technical Expert) on International Humanitarian Law

Result of ServiceDeliverables: As directed by the Commission, the contractor shall deliver the following: a. Legal analyses on national legislation and draft legal acts with respect to IHL compliance; b. Analytical briefs and background notes for Commission meetings; c. Drafts of decisions, recommendations, and conclusions in line with the Commission’s mandate; d. Minutes and protocols of Commission meetings and working group sessions; e. Well-organized and coordinated meetings, with timely distribution of preparatory materials to participants; f. Monthly progress reports summarizing activities carried out and results achieved. Work LocationKyiv Expected duration01.10.25-31.03.26 Duties and ResponsibilitiesBackground: Established in March 2014, UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) monitors and publicly reports on the human rights situation in Ukraine with the aim of strengthening human rights protection, fostering access to justice, and ensuring accountability for human rights violations. Since the beginning of the armed attack on Ukraine by the Russian Federation on 24 February 2022, HRMMU has focused its efforts on documenting violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law (IHL) committed by all parties to the conflict. In addition, HRMMU supports and advises national human rights institutions and assists national authorities in developing legislation and policies in line with international human rights standards. The Interagency Commission on the Application and Implementation of International Humanitarian Law (the Commission) is an advisory body under the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, mandated to ensure Ukraine’s compliance with its international legal obligations in the field of IHL. Its key tasks include: • Monitoring respect for and implementation of IHL, as well as cases of its violation; • Developing mechanisms for documenting IHL violations; • Coordinating efforts between government authorities on IHL-related issues; • Providing recommendations on necessary measures to be taken. OHCHR seeks to engage a national contractor to support the activities of the Commission and to strengthen its capacity in these areas, thereby contributing to a more effective national response to violations of IHL. Objective: The contractor will support the Commission in its mandate to review and assess the compliance of Ukraine’s national legislation and practices with IHL standards and to contribute to the development and implementation of relevant legal and policy recommendations. In addition to technical tasks, the expert will facilitate the day-to-day operations of the Commission, including coordination among stakeholders, preparation of meeting materials, documentation of discussions, and other administrative functions necessary for the effective delivery of the Commission’s work. Scope of Work: The contractor will support the Commission in fulfilling its mandate by providing both substantive and administrative support in the following areas of work of the Commission: • Ensure compliance with Ukraine’s international legal obligations in the field of IHL; • Coordinate efforts between government authorities on IHL-related issues; • Monitor respect for and implementation of IHL, as well as cases of its violation; • Develop mechanisms for documenting such violations; • Provide recommendations on necessary measures to be taken. With respect to the above areas of work, the contractor will perform the following tasks: a. Analyze legislation of Ukraine to assess its compliance with IHL norms, and prepare analytical briefs and recommendations on issues to be discussed at Commission meetings; b. Review draft legislation and regulatory legal acts related to the application and implementation of IHL, and provide expert input regarding their consistency with relevant international standards; c. Prepare draft decisions, conclusions, and recommendations within the Commission’s scope of work, and finalize the documentation of such outputs adopted by the Commission; d. Provide technical and organizational; support to the Commission in the performance of its functions, including coordination with relevant institutions and stakeholders; e. At the request of the Chair of the Commission, organize the preparation of Commission meetings, working group sessions, and other related events, including confirming the list of invited participants and ensuring they receive the necessary background materials; f. Prepare and maintain accurate minutes of the Commission’s meetings and working groups. Qualifications/special skillsAdvanced University Degree (Master or equivalent) in international humanitarian law, public international law, international human rights law or related field A minimum of 2 (two) years of demonstrated experience in the field of human rights and IHL Demonstrated experience in legislative review and policy development, preferably in the context of IHL and human rights Experience conducting research and analytical work Experience drafting legal analysis and developing recommendations Familiarity with the national legal and governmental frameworks of Ukraine LanguagesFluency in English and Ukrainian is required. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.