Legal Officer (NCSW)

Volunteering

Overview

Support legal research and analysis on gender equality issues for NCSW.

You have:

• Minimum 3 years of experience in legal research, litigation, or legal advocacy.
• Degree in Law or relevant field.
• Strong knowledge of gender equality and women’s rights issues in Pakistan.
• Excellent communication skills in English and Urdu.
• Experience in drafting legal documents and policy briefs.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and privacy standards.

Contract

This is a UNV National Expert contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Expert contracts.

UNDP works to improve the lives of vulnerable communities, with the overarching objective of preventing loss of development gains, promoting human rights, and finding sustainable pathways to development. UNDP projects under the democratic governance portfolio aims to strengthen state institutions, support democratic development and the rule of law, ensure crisis prevention, support policy development, and integrate gender equality into all areas of work. UNDP works to support the human rights ecosystem by strengthening human rights institutions to promote and protect human rights for all.

This UNV assignment is part of UNDP Pakistan’s Decentralization, Human Rights and Local Governance (DHL) project. The DHL project is a multi-sector project aimed at strengthening rights-based development, community stabilization, gender equality, and social inclusion across all regions and provinces of Pakistan. The core objective of the project is to ensure inclusive and equitable service delivery by providing technical assistance and capacity development support to relevant federal ministries, provincial line departments, statutory bodies, civil society, and private sector organizations. A key aim is to support the creation of an enabling environment for accelerated access to rights, people-centered justice, and people-centered security. The project focuses on institution building while connecting with vulnerable and at-risk communities to build trust between rights holders and duty bearers for inclusive, expeditious, and transparent access to rights and services.

Under its human rights programme, UNDP-DHL is supporting the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) to build its technical capacity for the fulfilment of its mandate as an autonomous national human rights institution and watchdog body focused on women’s rights and gender equality. UNDP-DHL's support will include, for example, technical support for addressing gender equality complaints, planning, legal review, international reporting obligations, and knowledge production. The NCSW plays a key role in fulfilling Pakistan’s international obligations.

The incumbent UNV will be stationed at the NCSW Office in Islamabad and will report to the Program Wing. The incumbent will be responsible for performing various tasks related to legal research, document preparation and administrative duties. The incumbent will ensure the smooth analysis and development of legal documents and contribute to the efficient functioning of the Commission.

Support the NCSW in legal research and analysis on gender equality • Lead comprehensive legal research on national and provincial gender equality and women’s empowerment legislation, statutes, regulations, policies, etc. • Lead comprehensive legal research on Pakistan’s obligations under international law on gender equality and women’s empowerment. • Develop briefs and summary reports of relevant national and provincial gender equality and women’s empowerment policies, laws, statutes, regulations etc. to assist and the members of the NCSW. • Coordinate closely with stakeholders to maintain a database of relevant laws, statutes, policies etc on gender equality and women’s empowerment. • Assist the NCSW in reviewing legislation on gender equality and women’s empowerment and developing recommendations. • Interpret and ensure compliance with national laws, international gender equality and women’s empowerment treaties, and conventions to which Pakistan is a party. • Provide legal opinions and advice on gender equality issues, complaints, and cases received by the NCSW. • Contribute to the development of policies, guidelines, and legislative proposals to strengthen the gender equality and women’s empowerment framework in Pakistan.

Draft and review legal documents and submissions • Develop and draft legal documents including legal memoranda, legal briefs, and letters on behalf of NCSW • Review and proofread legal documents for accuracy, clarity, and compliance with legal standards • Assist the NCSW in drafting, reviewing, and providing legal advice on gender equality and women’s empowerment to the NCSW • Support the NCSW in developing reports and responses for NCSW’s submission to international treaty bodies • Conduct in-depth legal research on emerging gender equality and women’s empowerment issues and develop policy recommendations. • Prepare amicus curiae briefs and submissions for relevant court proceedings, where necessary. • Assist in managing legal department schedules, meetings, and appointments. • Maintain confidential records and ensure compliance with privacy and confidentiality standards.

Facilitate the NCSW in monitoring and reporting on the implementation of gender equality and women’s empowerment policies and National Action Plans • Monitor developments in domestic and international gender equality and women’s empowerment laws and advise the NCSW on their implications. • Prepare and submit periodic progress reports on legal cases, research findings, and institutional initiatives. • Coordinate with the Business and Human Rights (BHR) focal points stationed at the Ministry of Human Rights and other relevant institutions to support the NCSW in monitoring gender equality in business activity under the National Action Plan on BHR (NAP-BHR). • Coordinate with the relevant focal point for the National Action Plan on Human Rights (NAP-HR) to support the NCSW in monitoring gender equality under the NAP-HR • Contribute to the drafting of monitoring reports and submissions. • Review and analyze complaints of women’s rights violations submitted to the NCSW • Liaise with relevant authorities, including law enforcement agencies, judiciary, and government departments, on cases handled by the NCSW.

Facilitate awareness and capacity building on gender equality and women’s empowerment. • Support the development of training modules and capacity-building workshops for NCSW staff and external stakeholders on gender equality and legal procedures. • Contribute to public awareness campaigns on gender equality and women’s empowerment issues, legal rights, and remedies available under Pakistani and international law. • Develop thematic briefs on gender equality and women’s empowerment legislation and frameworks in Pakistan. • Coordinate with the NHRIs Focal Point at UNDP under the Huqooq-e-Pakistan II Programme to support UNDP and NCSW’s joint initiatives. • Perform any other tasks as assigned by the Chairperson NCSW or the Program Wing NCSW.

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management • Confidentiality

National and/or international level as a lawyer, in legal research, litigation, or legal advocacy

As this is a national UNV assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.

UNV Field Unit will help you open a Pak rupee bank account with Standard Chartered Bank or any other local bank at your duty station.

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unv.org