The ABA Center for Human Rights is seeking an individual or organization who will identify and monitor criminal proceedings brought against vulnerable women and girls for the purposes of assessing potential fair trial and fundamental freedoms violations. Examples of such cases can include women prosecuted for having been subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM), for undertaking sex work, for HIV exposure or transmission, or (specific to Cameroon) for their personal relationships with separatist actors. Trial observers will identify cases to monitor through their preexisting work and/or contacts, monitor and take notes on the criminal proceedings, gather documents from the case file, and conduct follow-up advocacy as needed. The individual or organization should have an extensive network of contacts within civil society in a Sub-Saharan African country/several Sub-Saharan African countries and should be a lawyer or legal organization.
Responsibilities will include:
- Identifying potential criminal cases brought against vulnerable women and girls, such as women and girls being prosecuted for FGM, sex work, HIV exposure or transmission, or—in the country of Cameroon—personal relationships with alleged separatists, and preparing a short memorandum summarizing the facts and legal issues of the case and how ABA CHR’s monitoring and potential advocacy would benefit the accused and the rule of law in the country/region.
- Monitoring trials approved by the ABA CHR in accordance with ABA CHR guidelines, international standards, and OSCE/ICJ guidelines.
- Monitoring trials entails: observing every hearing and/or other court procedure of an approved case; taking and submitted detailed notes on hearings; gathering relevant court documents and sending these to ABA CHR; and providing consistent case updates to ABA CHR.
- Conducting follow-up advocacy by attending meetings with stakeholders such as defense lawyers, human rights organizations, and state institutions. Contractor may also identify and propose other advocacy opportunities and carry these out as approved by ABA CHR.
How to apply:
Bidders must submit their proposal in the format outlined in the Request for Proposals found on the ABA CHR career opportunities site in Appendixes A – C in addition to submitting a resume and a cover letter. Please email complete proposal in a single PDF to chr.opportunities@americanbar.org by 5:00 PM EST on February 25.