Republic of Moldova

National Consultant to provide reasonable accommodation to the victims with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities within the support intervention for revising the national guidelines on the investigation and prosecution of sexual violence

Vacancy Number: Pr14/00725

Location:	Chisinau, Moldova
Application Deadline:	18 Nov 2014, 23:59 (GMT+2:00)
Type of Contract:	Individual Contract
Starting date:	24 Nov 2014
Reference to the project:	Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Expected Duration of Assignment:	November - December 2014 (up to 12 working days)
Submission Instructions: Proposals should be submitted online only, by following the “Apply online” link, no later than 18 November 2014. Requests for clarification only must be sent by standard electronic communication to the following e-mail: violeta.fetescu@one.un.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

In its October 2013 Concluding Observations on Moldova, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW Committee) expressed concern about the low rate of reporting of sexual violence cases, including rape, and the ineffective investigation and prosecution in such cases.

During this session the Committee received reports of the institutionalization of women with disabilities in psychiatric facilities who had suffered sexual abuse and were forced to undergo abortions, sometimes following rape by professionals working in those institutions and who were discriminated by the police and prosecutor by refusing to initiate criminal investigations on grounds of psycho-social and intellectual disabilities.   Allegations of sexual assault of women in psychiatric residential institutions have been repeatedly reported in recent years, including by the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture.

The Committee recommended ensuring that all investigations of acts of sexual violence are carried out in line with international standards of investigation, including by amending the existing guidelines on investigation of rape and other sexual assaults.

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

Scope of work

In Moldova the decision whether there are sufficient evidence to initiate prosecution and judicial findings of the alleged perpetrator’s guilt of sexual violence is the prosecutor's responsibility. A national consultant is sought to work together with the 19 alleged victims of sexual violence that have been exposed to systematic sexual abuse by the attending doctor and other staff of the institution to pursue a case before the national courts and obtain redress.

The strategic intervention on the cases of sexual assault against women with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities in residential institutions is used as one part of a wider intervention aimed at advancing women’s rights to be free from all kinds of violence in everyday life (including sexual violence, sexual harassment at the work place and exploitation of women etc.) and catalyzing adoption of national legislative and practical measures designed to eradicate this violence as per the CEDAW recommendations. As a result of the consultant’s work, lessons learned will provide further guidance on how to incorporate the reasonable accommodation provision within the amended national guidelines on the investigation and prosecution of sexual violence, according to the international standards. These guidelines are prepared with a view to replacing the guidelines issued in 2008, and to direct prosecutors to ensure effective investigation, prosecution and redress for victims of sexual violence.

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

Requirements for experience

I.       Academic Qualifications:

• University Degree in psychology, social work or in law;

II.    Experience and skills:

• At least 2  years of proven professional experience in the area of human rights and  social inclusion of persons with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities;
• Practical experience on psychological counselling;
• Awareness in detail of international best practices in the area of prosecution of sexual violence;
• In–depth knowledge of the national law on disabilities and human rights;
• Proven excellent analytical and writing skills in English;
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills;
• Adhere 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.

III.   Language requirements:

•  Fluency in English, Romanian and Russian. Working knowledge of one or more additional languages relevant for Moldova, including Bulgarian, Gagauzian, Romani, Ukrainian or sign language is an asset.

Documents to be included

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

1. A detailed curriculum vitae of relevant experience or P11.

2.  A written statement of not more than 1000 words:

(i) Explaining why you are the most suitable for the work;

(ii) Providing a brief methodology on how you would approach and conduct the work.

Financial proposal

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables. Payments are paid in installments and 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 fees, taxes, mobile phone calls, etc.). The travel expenditures are to be approved in advance by the Project Manager and shall be covered from the Project budget.

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.

 

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