Background

The Human Rights Capacity-Building Programme (HURICAP), of Amnesty International The Netherlands, develops and implements human rights projects in various countries in Africa and the Middle East. These projects are carried out in close collaboration with local partners, regional Amnesty offices and other international partners, and aim to strengthen the capacity and skills of civil society actors to more effectively monitor, document and report on human rights violations. HURICAP furthermore develops training materials and handbooks to give guidance to human rights activists when researching and tackling specific human rights issues.

In 2000, HURICAP published Ukweli 1: a handbook on Monitoring and Documenting Human Rights Violations in Africa. This handbook was followed by a series of thematic handbooks, each focusing on monitoring a specific violation. These concise thematic handbooks are A5 in size and between 50 – 70 pages. The Ukweli handbooks are well-known and widely used by Amnesty staff and human rights organizations in Africa. Several handbooks, including the main book, are currently being updated. For more details and downloads of the current (not yet updated) version of these handbooks, see https://www.amnesty.nl/actueel/ukweli-monitoring-and-documenting-human-rights-violations-in-africa.

We are looking for an experienced human rights consultant to redraft the current handbook on Sexual Violence – and to expand it to a handbook that takes into account both Sexual and GenderBased Violence (SGBV) as well as Conflict Related Sexual Violence (CRSV). The current thematic handbook on Sexual Violence can be found here: Sexual Violence (amnesty.nl)

Scope of the consultant’s work

The primary responsibilities of the consultant will be to:

• Revise and update the handbook on Sexual Violence to ensure it reflects current thinking, trends and language around the topic, while addressing both SGBV and CRSV.

• Ensure that the revised handbook is tailored to African and Middle Eastern contexts in order to be useful for the work of our local partners in the respective regions.

• Incorporate new insights and recent developments in (1) Human rights standards and human rights monitoring and investigating Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and Conflict related Sexual Violence and (2) methods for investigating sexual violence by both state and non-state actors.

The work will be done in close collaboration with HURICAP staff of Amnesty International The Netherlands, primarily to discuss contents and contexts and to ensure alignment with the materials that are currently under revision. The consultant may also draw upon other experts within or outside the Amnesty International movement.

Tasks of the consultant

The consultant is expected to deliver the following:

1. Propose a detailed outline of what the revised handbook should look like including an annotated table of contents.

2. Update and revise contents, section by section, with specific timings for discussing progress, changes and feedback with HURICAP.

3. Deliver a complete text of the handbook, containing guidelines for designers (incl. text boxes graphics or other visual materials such as photos).

4. Discuss and, where needed, incorporate comments or changes from HURICAP staff.

5. Finalize the handbook ready for design and publication.

Duration/Timeline

Starting date is 01-11-2023. We expect the revision of this handbook to take approximately 30 working days over period of 6-12 months, due to several revision rounds with people with high workloads. Exact planning TBD in consultation with the recruited consultant.

Required skills and competencies of applicants

HURICAP is looking for a consultant with experience in basic human rights research and in writing handbooks or educational materials for NGO/CSO workers in African countries and/or the Middle East. We expect the consultant to have the following skills and competencies:

• Demonstrated experience in human rights monitoring, documenting and reporting, research and analysis, preferably in African countries and/or the Middle East.

• Solid knowledge of and preferably expertise addressing Sexual violence in Africa and/or Middle East.

• Demonstrated experience in writing practical handbooks or educational materials – a.o. in the field of human rights – for CSOs/field workers.

• Thorough knowledge of international human rights standards, trends, developments, principles and practices. • Excellent oral and writing skills in English.

• Knowledge of Amnesty International’s core work is strongly desirable.