Consultancy: Consultant, UNICEF Plan of Action on Hate Speech - Human Rights Unit, PG, NYHQ/Remote - Req

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, hope.

Consultancy Title: UNICEF Plan of Action on Hate Speech

Section/Division/Duty Station: Human Rights Unit, Programmes Group, New York

Duration: 10 months (approx. 100 working days)

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

The UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech (May 2019) was launched by the UN Secretary-General Guterres in response to alarming trends of growing xenophobia, racism and intolerance, violent misogyny, anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hatred around the world. The Strategy and Plan of Action sets out strategic guidance for the entire UN system to address hate speech at the national and global level, and also includes ways the UN Secretariat can support the work of UN RCs in addressing and countering hate speech.

Specifically, the Strategy and Plan of Action consists of 13 commitments for action by the UN system and is grounded on four key principles: a) that the strategy and its implementation are to be in line with the right to freedom and expression; b) that tackling hate speech is the responsibility of all; c) that in the digital age, the UN should support a new generation of digital citizens, empowered to recognize, reject and stand up to hate speech; and d) that coordinated data collection and research, including on the root causes, drivers and conditions conducive to hate speech is fundamental to tackling this crime.

Discrimination and exclusion that manifests in hate speech are issues critically relevant to UNICEF’s child rights mandate, and have relevance across both development and humanitarian contexts, as well as both online and off-line. In a statement to the Human Rights Council in 2021, UNICEF called attention to the fact that children, including those belonging to minorities, are disproportionately affected by hate crimes and hate speech, including through social media.[1] Concern is especially acute given that children account for an estimated one in three internet users around the world.

UNICEF is a member of the UN Working Group on Hate Speech, and during a meeting between ED Fore and the Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide (whose office coordinates implementation of the Plan of Action on Hate Speech) in September 2021, it was agreed that a Memorandum of Understanding would be established between the two entities, and that UNICEF would redouble efforts towards implementation of the UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech.

In particular, UNICEF plays a key role in supporting child rights monitoring, early warning, peacebuilding and social cohesion efforts, as well as in the areas of education, and in supporting a safe digital environment for children. Non-discrimination, anti-racism and the promotion of social cohesion, inclusion and peaceful societies are also pivotal aspects of UNICEF’s new Strategic Plan 2022-2025.

This project will support the development of a UNICEF Plan of Action on Hate Speech, across research, programme and advocacy pillars, and will support the coordination of the organizations work on this agenda internally as well as with relevant inter-agency fora on human rights such as the UN Working Group on Hate Speech, the UN Network on Racial Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, and the UN Task Team on LGBTIQ+.

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

The consultant will work within, provide support to, and be supported by the PGLT Human Rights Unit. The Consultant will be required to work across all relevant UNICEF Divisions, and with partners from other UN entities, academic institutions, human rights/child rights NGOs, and civil society amongst others.

The main tasks of the Consultant are as follows:

1. Drafting UNICEF update on implementation of UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech;
2. Research into impact of hate speech on child rights, including both online and offline;
3. Development of UNICEF Roadmap in addressing hate speech;
4. Preparation of resources and organization of an event to commemorate the International Day Against Hate Speech; and
5. Support provided to COs in tackling hate speech.

Qualifications

(1) Education

• Master’s degree in Social Sciences; International Law; International Relations; Political Science; or related field.

2) Work experience

• A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in the fields of human rights and child rights.
• Up-to-date knowledge of the International legal framework on child rights and concrete experience of its implementation.
• Familiarity with the UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech required.
• Demonstrated experience in project management and coordination within international organizations.
• Experience in facilitating consultation processes with a variety of stakeholders.

3) Competencies

• Excellent English writing skills with experience writing technical guidance documents.
• Good judgment, initiative, high sense of responsibility, tact and discretion.
• Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and ability to establish harmonious working relations in a multicultural environment.)

Requirements****:

• Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and provide Personal History Form (P11) Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include:
• your daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, race, sexual orientation, nationality, culture, appearance, socio-economic status, ability, age, religious, and ethnic backgrounds, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

[1] In relation to the latest Report of the Special Rapporteur on Minorities Issues which focused on hate speech, social media and minorities.