ABA ROLI Human Rights Legal Specialist, Armenia (Volunteer)

Job Description

The Human Rights Legal Specialist (HR-LS) in Armenia will support ABA ROLI’s efforts to build the capacity of the Human Rights Defender’s Office (OHRD), a national human rights institution.

With Armenia’s new Law on the Human Rights Defender, in force since March 2017, the overall mandate of the OHRD – having initially been to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms from abuse of state institutions – has been broadened and given more power, including to initiate legislation, to conduct legislative reviews from a human rights perspective, and to issue formal opinions and recommendations on judicial and executive practice.

The HR-LS will help the OHRD in better addressing sensitive and underreported human rights cases (spanning the OHRD’s Yerevan and regional offices), including by providing expertise on effective international models which support the enforcement of domestic and international law to protect and defend the rights of all, and particularly the rights of those most vulnerable.

The HR-LS will employ a consultative and participatory approach in working with select OHRD staff to create guidelines for Yerevan- and regionally based OHRD staff for case intake, case procedure, and case archiving for the OHRD’s online case management system. Following the development of guidelines on how to handle sensitive and underreported human rights, ABA ROLI and the HR-LS will develop and organize a two-day workshop and technical training for the OHRD staff.

Please note: Although this is a voluntary position, ABA ROLI will cover the costs of travel and lodging. After the workshop concludes, per diem will be provided to cover relevant costs.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides expertise on effective international models for enforcing domestic and international law that protects and defends the rights of all, and particularly the rights of those most vulnerable, with a focus on cases in which:
  • 1) police and investigators have declined to investigate;
  • 2) police and investigators have unduly protracted or mishandled the investigation; or
  • 3) prosecutors have decided not to prosecute despite sufficient evidence; among other scenarios.
• Employs a consultative and participatory approach to develop guidelines for the OHRD’s offices on case intake, case procedure, and case archiving for the OHRD’s online case management system
• Develops and delivers a two-day workshop and technical training for OHRD staff on case intake, case procedure, and case archiving
• Supports the OHRD staff in identifying ways to improve the OHRD’s reporting on sensitive and underreported human rights cases in its annual report, such as anonymizing case details and providing concomitant recommendations for improvement or for tailored legal or procedural reforms

QUALIFICATIONS

• JD/LLM or foreign equivalent highly preferred with 10 or more years’ experience
• Experience supporting human rights advocacy in development contexts preferred
• Experience leading workshops preferred
• Experience working in development settings and in partnership with local stakeholders is highly desirable
• Fluency in English (Armenian language skills preferred but not required)

Due to the high volume of applications received, we are only able to follow up with candidates who are selected for interviews. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and this position may be filled prior to the close date.

Please submit your resume and cover letter for consideration.

About the Organization

ABA ROLI is a non-profit organization that implements legal reform programs in roughly 50 countries around the world. ABA ROLI has nearly 500 professional staff work­ing abroad and in its Washington, D.C. office. ABA ROLI’s host country partners include judges, lawyers, bar associations, law schools, court administrators, legislatures, ministries of justice and a wide array of civil society organi­zations, including human rights groups.

For more information about what we do at ABA ROLI please visit: https://www.americanbar.org/advocacy/rule_of_law/about.html