Result of Service

The contract shall start on 15 September 2023 and end on 31 December 2023

The consultant will be expected to:
• Deliver a first draft of the report for review and comments by OHCHR by 20 November 2023;
• Make a presentation of the findings of the research during an online experts’ seminar to be organized in December 2023 (date to be defined);
• Deliver the final report of the study by 31 December 2023.

Payment for the individual contractor shall be done in two installments: a first one by 31st October 2023 and a second and final one by 31 December 2023.

Work Location

Home based

Expected duration

15.09.23 – 31.12.23

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Human Rights Officer responsible for the work on media freedom and the safety of journalists of the Rule of Law and Democracy Section, and in coordination with the head of the Civil Society Unit, the Consultant will:
• Conduct a preliminary desk research on the guarantees under international law for the exercise of: (a) freedom of expression and (b) freedom of assembly to participate in matters of public interest, including procedural safeguards;
• Review emerging evidence on the use of abusive litigation tactics to suppress public participation on matters of public interest, map the civil society actors most affected by strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), including journalists, human rights defenders, environmental activists;
• Analyze the legal mechanisms which facilitate said abuse;
• Map the initiatives at regional and national levels aimed at tackling the abusive use of lawsuits against civil society actors, and identify best practices;
• Identify advocacy messages, including minimum standards needed, to protect civil society actors from SLAPPs. The purpose of these standards is to provide States with guidance on the steps needed to protect and promote freedom of expression and assembly, and to remedy abuses of those rights through the use of abusive litigation.

The Consultant will out the afore-mentioned research and analysis through:
• Comprehensive survey and analysis of existing literature and other relevant documents;
• Research and compilation of references to international and regional human rights instruments and jurisprudence by international and regional human rights mechanisms, including by United Nations human rights treaty bodies and Special Procedures;
• Consultations with civil society actors affected by SLAPPs, as well as governmental and non-governmental organizations working on that topic;
• Consultation with OHCHR staff with expertise on the topics covered by the study;
• Any other suitable methods.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced degree in Law
A minimum of 3 years of progressively responsible experience in human rights or law or related area is required, with a specific expertise in researching on Strategic Lawsuit against public participation (SLAPPs) is required.

Languages

Fluency in English (spoken and written) is requires. Knowledge of another UN Official language is desirable.

No Fee

THE 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.