Republic of Moldova

Three (3) National Consultants on documentation of cases of torture and incorporating the Istanbul Protocol into the training for relevant professionals

Vacancy Number: Pr14/00716

Location:	Chisinau, Moldova
Application Deadline:	09 Nov 2014, 23:59 (GMT+2:00)
Type of Contract:	Individual Contract
Starting date:	17 Nov 2014
Reference to the project:	Strengthening National Capacities to Protect the Most Vulnerable from Torture in Moldova
Expected Duration of Assignment:	November 2014 – January 2015 (up to 30 working days for each consultant; with the possibility of extension)
Submission Instructions: Proposals should be submitted online in person by pressing the "Apply Now" button no later than 9 November 2014, specifying the position candidates apply for. Requests for clarification only must be sent by standard electronic communication to the following e-mail: evghenii.golosceapov@undp.org. UNDP will respond by standard electronic mail and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all applicants.
Supporting Documents: Terms of Reference Individual Consultant Procurement Notice Personal History Form (P11) UNDP General Conditions of Individual Contract

Background

Moldova signed the EU-Moldova Visa Liberalization Action Plan, in which it committed to implement the National Human Rights Action Plan for 2011-2014,[1] which contains commitments to prevent and combat all acts of torture and ill-treatment. The Justice Sector Reform Strategy 2011-2016[2] was adopted addressing the problem of torture in its Pillar VI. Related priorities and commitments are established under the UN-Moldova Partnership Framework (UNPF) 2013-2017,[3] which addresses a number of human rights issues, including torture and ill-treatment and a need to secure the rights of the most vulnerable. Additionally, there are a number of international recommendations on combating torture and related ill-treatment in Moldova, many of which still need to be implemented.[4] In spite of these recommendations and international commitments, torture and related ill-treatment remain to be a grave human rights violation in Moldova with not all of the aspects of this violation addressed properly and impunity for torture and related ill-treatment remaining one of the most acute problems.

The Istanbul Protocol: Manual on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (Istanbul Protocol) provides international guidelines for the assessment of persons who allege torture and ill-treatment, for investigating cases of alleged torture and for reporting findings to the judiciary or any other investigative body. The Istanbul Protocol manual includes principles for the effective investigation and documentation of torture, and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. These principles outline minimum standards for States in order to ensure the effective documentation of torture.[5]

The overall objective of the “Strengthening National Capacities to Protect the Most Vulnerable from Torture in Moldova” project is to contribute to the prevention of torture and fighting against impunity on the whole territory of Moldova, including Transnistrian region, especially in respect of the most vulnerable women and men in-line with international human rights standards, Justice Sector Reform Strategy (2011 – 2016) and its Action Plan, and National Human Rights Action Plan (2011-2014). The project seeks to further strengthen the capacities of national stakeholders in monitoring of, reporting on, prevention and combating of torture, especially against women and men with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities in health care facilities.

One of the activities of the project is supporting the National Institute of Justice for the development of curriculum on documentation of torture and related ill-treatment. The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) was formed in 2006 and is responsible for the initial training of future judges and prosecutors, continuous training of judges and prosecutors in office, training of clerks and bailiffs as well as training of other legal professionals (on contractual basis) that contribute to the administration of justice in RM.[6] Incorporating the principles of documentation of torture and related ill-treatment, outlined in the Istanbul Protocol, into the educating practices of legal and related professionals is an effective step towards effective prosecution and, further, prevention of torture. Ensuring that cases of torture and related ill-treatment are properly documented, investigated and prosecuted contributes towards a more effective, evidence-based justice system and protection of human rights.

The Project «Strengthening National Capacities to Protect the Most Vulnerable from Torture in Moldova» is funded by the European Union and co-funded and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme in Moldova in consultations with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the East Europe Foundation and the Soros Foundation – Moldova. The goal of this Project is to contribute to the prevention of torture and fighting against impunity on the whole territory of the Republic of Moldova, including Transnistrian region, especially in respect of the most vulnerable women and men with psycho-social and intellectual disabilities in mental health facilities. The Project also aims at raising capacities of civil society organisations (CSOs) in monitoring and reporting on the implementation of national anti-torture related strategies, plans and application of legislation.

Scope of work

The 3 National Consultants will be experts in the following areas:

• One will specialise on medical issues and documentation of torture from a forensic/medical perspective (Consultant on Medical Documentation);
• One will specialise on documentation of torture from a psychological perspective (Consultant on Psychological Documentation), and
• One will provide specific expertise on the legal issues related to documentation provided in the Istanbul Protocol (Legal Consultant).

The scope of work of the National Consultants will be:

• Providing expertise, including theoretical and practical knowledge for developing a training course on documentation of torture and related ill-treatment for the legal professionals at the National Institute of Justice;
• Conducting a needs assessment and feasibility study on incorporating the provisions of the Istanbul Protocol into the curriculum of the State University of Medicine and Pharmacy “N. Testimetanu”.

In order to achieve the objectives and to implement the abovementioned activities the National Consultants shall work together as a team to:

• Evaluate the existing curricular and training materials of the NIJ related to the documentation of torture;
• Develop a training curriculum for NIJ’s training course on documentation of torture and related ill-treatment for the legal professionals (judges and prosecutors) at the National Institute of Justice, incorporating the provisions of the Istanbul Protocol;
• Make a selection of necessary study materials for the training course on documentation of torture and related ill-treatment for the legal professionals at the National Institute of Justice;
• Analyse the possibility of incorporating the provisions of the Istanbul protocol into the curriculum of State University of Medicine and Pharmacy “N. Testimetanu”, taking into account, but not limited to, the following information and factors:
  • Training curriculum and materials of the relevant existing courses;
  • Categories of students;
  • Types of faculties;
  • Develop and present a final report on the consultancy undertaken;
  • Undertake other tasks related to the assignment as requested. 

For detailed information, please refer to Annex 1 – Terms of Reference.

Requirements for experience

I. Academic Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree or equivalent (5-year university education) in a field relevant to each consultant:
  • In Medicine, Healthcare, Forensic Medicine or other relevant field for Consultant on Medical Documentation;
  • In Forensic Psychology, Healthcare or other relevant field for Consultant on Psychological Documentation;
  • In Law, Human Rights, International Public Law, Medicine or other relevant field for Legal Consultant.

II. Years and sphere of experience:

• At least 3 years of proven professional experience in a field relevant to each consultant:
  • In forensic medicine, healthcare, medical services provision or other relevant field for Consultant on Medical Documentation;
  • In forensic psychology,  working with victims of crime, conducting applied research in relation to psychology of victimization related to physical and mental torture and related ill-treatment, medical services provision or other relevant field for Consultant on Psychological Documentation;
  • Working on the prevention and investigation of torture and related ill-treatment within prosecutor office, implementation of the Istanbul Protocol, judiciary, national torture preventive mechanism (NPM), regional and/or international torture related courts, human rights bodies and NGOs, relevant UN treaty bodies or special procedures or other relevant field for Legal Consultant.

III. Competencies:

• Adheres to the core values of the United Nations; in particular, is respectful of differences of culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, language, age, HIV status, disability, and sexual orientation, or other status
• Professional understanding of the issue of torture and related ill-treatment:
  • In the context of prevention, documentation, forensic investigation, medical examination for Consultant on Medical Documentation;
  • Especially in the context of working with victims of torture for Consultant on Psychological Documentation;
  • In the context of prevention, legal proceedings, documentation, investigation and prosecution for Legal Consultant

• Knowledge of the Istanbul Protocol would be an advantage
• Experience and knowledge of anti-torture related issues, actors, stakeholders and principles in the Republic of Moldova
• Experience in developing training curricula, methodologies and tools for training activities
• IT skills including word processing, presentation software and use of other relevant applications
• Knowledge of Romanian and Russian languages
• Knowledge of English would be a strong advantage
• Knowledge of one or more additional languages relevant for Moldova, including Bulgarian, Gagauzian, Romani, Ukrainian or sign language is an asset

IV. Personal qualities:

• Responsibility, creativity, flexibility and punctuality

The United Nations Country Team in the Republic of Moldova is committed to workforce diversity. Women, persons with disabilities, Roma and other ethnic or religious minorities, persons living with HIV, as well as refugees and other non-citizens legally entitled to work in the Republic of Moldova, are particularly encouraged to apply.

 

Documents to be included

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information in Romanian, Russian or English to demonstrate their qualifications:

1. Personal information (as a detailed CV or as a Personal History Form /P11) including records on past experience in similar projects/assignments and concrete outputs obtained, including names of 3 reference persons and their contacts;
2. Cover letter, which should include:

(i) A list of capacity building activities/trainings, reports, analysis documents, or other task related documents the candidate has elaborated or contributed to, as well as experience working for or with relevant institutions;

(ii) Financial proposal (in USD, specifying a total lump sum amount taking into account anticipated number of working days). 

Applications should be submitted specifying the type of consultancy applied for.

Financial proposal

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in instalments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR.  In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).  

Payment will be made upon acceptance of deliverables by the UNDP Moldova Justice and Human Rights Programme Analyst.

Travel

 All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel.  In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources. 

In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. 

No travel costs are envisaged under this assignment.

 

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