LAW is an independent, non-profit organisation comprised of human rights lawyers working in fragile and conflict-affected areas in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. We have a particular focus on gender equality and sexual and gender-based violence, natural resource exploitation, rule of law and accountability, and transformative justice, working to bring justice to those who need it most.
LAW’s groundbreaking work has been included in a number of UN and Member State government reports and has received international media coverage, including in the New York Times, the Times of London, the Guardian, Voice of America, BBC News, Sky News, Al Jazeera, Huffington Post, and Foreign Policy.
LAW’s Rohingya Crisis Programme
LAW’s ground-breaking Rohingya Crisis programme seeks to ensure meaningful Rohingya participation in the ongoing international justice processes pertaining to their treatment in Myanmar, including engagement with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (The Gambia v. Myanmar); the ongoing investigation by the Officer of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the work of the Independent Investigative Mechanism on Myanmar (IIMM). Additionally, LAW undertakes innovative strategic litigation on behalf of more than 500 Rohingya clients and ensures Rohingya voices are prioritised throughout its advocacy.
Addressing the brutal sexual violence perpetrated by the Myanmar Army (Tatmadaw) during the 2016 and 2017 ‘clearance operations’ which led to the displacement of more than 800,000 Rohingya from northern Rakhine state, Myanmar, into neighbouring Bangladesh, is a central area of focus within LAW’s Rohingya programme. A key aspect of the programme is LAW’s network of over 50 Rohingya Survivor Advocates who are provided ongoing training to provide legal information to the survivors of sexual and gender-based violence about international justice mechanisms related to the Rohingya Crisis and provide them support in accessing services. In addition to empowering Rohingya women and girls displaced in 2017, LAW works closely with male and Hijra (third gender, transgender, intersex) survivors of sexual and gender-based violence to ensure their access to justice.
Position Description
Reports to: Duration:
Rohingya Crisis Programme Manager 12 months – extension subject to funding
Location Hours:
Preference: South Asia or South-East Asia Full-time 40 hours per week
Flexible other location
Travel to Cox’s Bazar will be required.
Role Overview and Responsibility:
The Legal Advisor will engage with partners ensuring activities and work plans are delivered effectively in compliance with LAW and regional obligations. The post holder will perform duties in accordance with the responsibilities outlined below:
Legal:
· Provide support to LAW’s strategic litigation aimed at justice and accountability for the Rohingya community, including research, drafting, advice, and coordination.
· Develop high-quality legal documents including submissions, position papers, reports, and legal briefs.
- Conduct interviews with individual survivors and witnesses of serious international crimes and international human rights violations, and draft statements, and build case files.
- Screen for protection concerns and support field staff in making urgent informed interventions in vulnerable cases.
- Collaboration with relevant service providers and stakeholders to ensure protection delivery and legal aid.
· Conduct capacity-building sessions for practitioners and humanitarian actors.
· Monitor and provide updates on key developments in international law, especially as it relates to LAW’s work.
Programmatic:
· Design and devise delivery of trainings and briefings for LAW’s network of community advocates on international law, refugee rights, human rights practice.
· Conceptualizing and undertaking community-participatory studies and research, and implementation of evidence-based programming,
· Support in monitoring cases, trends and progress on programme indicators.
· Coordinate with LAW’s Senior Management Team, and other programme managers as needed.
Advocacy and Communications:
· Promote LAW’s innovation and thought-leadership, including LAW expert roundtables, and the development of LAW policy and positioning on key thematic issues.
- Develop grassroots advocacy initiatives through conceptualizing effective dissemination and advocacy material.
· Promote the profile and visibility of the programme and represent LAW on national and regional platforms, when required
· Establish networks with local and international NGO’s and participate in coordination mechanisms at a regional level.
· Coordinate and ensure that website and social media content related to the programmes is up to date and engaging audiences.
Any other duties as specified by the Rohingya Crisis Programme Manager or LAW’s Senior Management Team.
Experience, Skills and Qualifications
· Bachelor’s degree in law and preferably a Masters in human rights/international law.
· Minimum 5 years relevant experience, with a focus on international law or refugee law.
· Demonstrated experience interviewing vulnerable individuals is essential, with experience in cases of sexual and gender-based violence preferred.
· Experience working across insecure or conflict-affected and fragile environments. and demonstrated understanding of protection challenges within the region.
· Excellent drafting and communication skills, including fluency in English.
· Excellent research and analytical skills
· Proficiency in handling casework and information management.
· Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Microsoft Word and Microsoft PowerPoint, and strong technical literacy.
· Attention to detail, ability to multi-task and prioritize, and highly motivated.
Desirable
• Knowledge and experience in implementing legal aid services, working with vulnerable communities and gender programming;
• Experience working on strategic litigation within the context of an INGO;
Travel to the region will be required.
How to apply:
Application Process
If you are a passionate and with a strong track record of delivering survivor focused legal services, engaging with partners and lawyers in challenging humanitarian contexts, LAW would like to hear from you.
Please send an email with a CV and covering letter outlining how your skills and experience match the role (neither exceeding 2 pages of A4) in English to recruitment@legalactionworldwide.org. The subject of the application should read ‘**Legal Advisor Rohingya Crisis’**.
Deadline for applications: This position is on rolling basis - LAW will be scheduling interviews as the applications come in therefore to avoid any disappointment please kindly apply in the first instance.
Start date: Immediate start in January 2022
Only shortlisted candidates who meet the criteria will be invited for interviews. LAW is an equal opportunity employer; Women lawyers with experience representing at-risk clients are encouraged to apply.
To learn more about us visit our website: www.legalactionworldwide.org