The American Bar Association (ABA) Center for Human Rights is the ABA’s focal entity for critical human rights concerns in the United States and around the world. The ABA Center for Human Rights (ABA CHR) works to promote and protect human rights worldwide by mobilizing lawyers to defend threatened advocates, protect vulnerable communities, and hold governments accountable under law.
The ABA CHR TrialWatch program is seeking a paid, remote, part-time consultant with experience in criminal law in the Latin American region. The consultant must be fluent in English and Spanish (spoken and written) and be able to travel to/within the Latin American region. The ideal candidate will have prior experience practicing criminal law in a Latin American country and experience with media and/or issues around freedom of expression.
The contract period is expected to run from May – November 2023.
- Background
As part of the Clooney Foundation’s TrialWatch program, the ABA CHR TrialWatch program has been monitoring criminal trials around the world where there appear to be a high risk of fair trial violations, with a focus on charges brought against journalists, human rights defenders, and members of marginalized communities.
The ABA CHR TrialWatch program has recently launched trial monitoring projects in two countries in Latin America focused on criminal charges against journalists. Working closely with the TrialWatch Legal Advisor, the consultant will support these two projects, with approximately 80% of time focused on criminal SLAPPs against journalists in Country A, and approximately 20% of the time analyzing legal documents for a cluster of cases in Country B.
- Responsibilities
Country A:
Liaise with ABA CHR’s local partner to identify relevant cases of criminal defamation charges filed against journalists between 2020-2021
Research and provide legal analysis of relevant domestic laws and practices
Gather and review case documents in preliminary proceedings (approximately 30-40 cases) and selected judgments
Arrange and conduct key informant interviews with relevant parties, including defense lawyers, journalists, law professors, etc.
Draft a report analyzing trends and patterns in criminal defamation cases, with legal analysis based on international norms and practices
Participate in meetings with key stakeholders and possibly advocacy activities targeting relevant domestic actors (may include travel)
Perform other tasks as necessary and agreed upon between the consultant and the ABA
Country B:
- Review case documents (to be provided by the ABA CHR) in a cluster of criminal cases (approximately 10-12) and conduct additional research on the cases
- Liaise with defense lawyers and key stakeholders, as necessary
- Provide a mapping and case summaries of up to 10 criminal cases
How to apply
3. How to Apply
Please send the following documents in a single PDF to chr.opportunities@americanbar.org and copy April Artrip at april.artrip@americanbar.org
- Statement of interest detailing your experience with criminal law and/or issues of freedom of expression/media law. In your statement, please also indicate your ability to travel to/within Latin America. Maximum 1 page.
- Resume or CV
- Daily rate
- 2 writing samples: one in English and one in Spanish
Application deadline: April 20, 2023. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.