Background

The right to sexual and reproductive health is a universal human right. All individuals, without distinction, are entitled to this right on an equal basis. Yet sexual and reproductive health and rights continue to be compromised and violated for a myriad of reasons ranging from culture, religion to underfunding of sexual and reproductive health services. The most affected are the people that are vulnerable, disadvantaged, and marginalized including women and girls and persons with disabilities. The implementation of plans, policies, laws, and programmes that seek to contribute to the realization of sexual and reproductive health and rights must be grounded in human rights standards and principles.

National Human Rights Institutions are key to the promotion and protection of human rights in their respective countries. The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) was established by an Act of Parliament (Act No. 9) of 2004, with the mandate of “promoting and protecting human rights in the country through investigations, public education, monitoring, advising the government, reviewing draft and existing legislation and producing an annual state of human rights report to the President, Parliament and the public”. The Commission has the mandate to conduct a public inquiry into allegations of systemic human rights violations pursuant to Section 7 (2)(a) of the HRCSL Act (No. 9) of 2004 and Rule 42 of the HRCSL (Complaints, Investigations, and Inquiries) Rules of 2008.

A Country Assessment and Public Inquiry, to be undertaken by the HRCSL with technical and financial assistance from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) will fulfill one of the HRCSL’s primary mandates of promoting and protecting human rights and conducting investigations of violations of human rights in the country.

Sierra Leone has made significant progress in reducing maternal mortality with the latest UN estimates indicating an MMR of 443 per 100,000 live births. However, certain population groups continue to be subjected to exclusion and discrimination when it comes to their exercise of human rights in relation to their sexual and reproductive health and with the deadline for the attainment of the global MMR target of 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 fast approaching, the impetus of carrying out a public inquiry in order to unearth the structural and root causes of these problems.

The evidence generated through this inquiry and the recommendations drawn from the findings are aimed at spurring a process of transformative change at the level of law, and policy, especially with respect to enforcement, as well as in programmes and interventions. It is envisaged that the findings will influence policy and law reform; advocacy activities aimed at empowering claim holders to be more aware of their rights for them to effectively exercise and demand them where need be, and also engaging duty bearers to effectively fulfill their obligations with respect to these rights.

In view of the above, UNFPA Sierra Leone seeks to engage an international expert who will collaborate and support the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone to conduct a National Inquiry on human rights in the context of sexual and reproductive health and well-being; with a specific focus on maternal mortality. The consultant will be guided by UNFPA’s Technical guidance on the undertaking of Country Assessments and National Inquiries on Human Rights in the Context of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Well-being.

Scope of work

The overall aim of the Inquiry is to establish the extent and nature of violations of sexual and reproductive health rights along the continuum of: availability, accessibility, acceptability, and quality of care, and recommend appropriate redress measures. The International Consultant will be responsible for the following deliverables:

• Development of the Country Assessment and National Inquiry methodologies: methodologies will be drafted in line with the Technical guidance on the undertaking of Country Assessments and National Inquiries on Human Rights in the Context of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Well-being. This should also include the elaboration of the relevant protocol(s) for leading the field work according to the elaborated methodology.
• Conducting training for the interviewers: the international consultant will conduct the 2-day training for the national consultant(s) regarding the elaborated methodology and the protocols.
• Prepare the outline (table of content) of the national report: the international consultant will develop a brief outline of the report for the national consultants indicating the major chapters and sections to be included in the national report.
• Liaising with local experts: International expert will provide necessary guidance to the local experts hired by UNFPA Sierra Leone and will ensure proper communication with the Gender and Rights Technical Specialist who will be responsible for the overall coordination of the initiative in close communication with a Task Team comprising HRCSL and UNFPA Sierra Leone Staff.

Qualifications and Experience

Qualification

• At least a Masters’ degree in legal studies, preferably in international human rights law or equivalent qualification in a relevant, directly related discipline.

Professional experience

• Proven knowledge of international human rights and non-discrimination provisions concerning sexual and reproductive health rights
• 5 years working experience in the field of human rights in the context of sexual and reproductive health rights at international level
• Experience in stakeholder engagement and management approaches
• Strong analytical orientation and sound judgment; initiative, culturally sensitive and, resourceful.
• Excellent facilitation, verbal communication skills required and ability to conduct consultative meetings
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to interact with national and global partners and provide creative solutions in a professional manner.
• Fluency in spoken English and excellent writing skills in English required