Consultant Access to Justice for Children and Social Accountability - FOR NATIONAL CANDIDATES ONLY.

The Lebanese juvenile justice system includes various policies and protocols in place designed to ensure children in contact with the law have access to child-friendly environment. Under the legal framework child survivors of abuse, children in contact with the law at witnesses, or as offenders have the right to access child friendly services catered to their needs and rehabilitation.

Article 3 of the UNCRC decrees that the best interests of the child must be a primary consideration of executive authorities, law-makers, judicial bodies, and relevant private institutions in all actions taken in matters concerning children.

In addition, the Beijing Rules, articulate that minors in conflict with the law should benefit from fair and human treatment. More precisely, Juvenile Justice should pursue two objectives: search the promotion of the minor’s welfare and ensure that the reaction of authorities should be proportionate to the nature of the crime or the delinquent. Whilst the Lebanese juvenile justice system aims to protect children from further harm, in practice children in contact with the law often aren’t assured long term protection, rehabilitation and/or access to child friendly services. 

Two key IRC departments, Child protection and Protection Rule of Law are working closely together to support and further enhance existing measures and protocols in place to protect children at risk, child witnesses and children in conflict with the law. IRC aims to do this by working closely with key stakeholders, in order to complement or address needs and gaps not currently addressed by other interventions.  

IRC wants to support children exposed to harm by promoting, influencing and recommending practical ways in which existing services can become more child friendly justice, and ensure children’s access to safety and protection.

The main objective of the consultant will be to support IRC office in development and implementation of programme interventions aimed to promote social accountability and access to justice for children through coordination, and workshops with key national entities.

Key Stakeholders and Relationships

• Accountable to CP Coordinator and Protection coordinator- CP Manager/CP Senior Manager
• Close coordination with: CP Manager, CP Senior Systems Strengthening Manager, external key stakeholders from the judicial system both formal and non-formal.
• Close working relationship with the field – : Case workers, legal counsellors,

Core Consulting Tasks: IRC is seeking to hire a consultant to support IRCs Child protection and Protection Rule of Law teams to promote Access to justice and Social accountability for children who come into contact with the law (as protection, conflict with the law, and/or child witness.

Key outputs

IRC is seeking to hire a consultant to support IRCs Child protection and Protection Rule of Law teams to promote Access to justice and Social accountability for children who come into contact with the law (as protection, conflict with the law, and/or child witness.

Study of Legal Framework applied to children

1. Map the legal framework applied to child protection, cases of children in conflict with the law, and child witnesses.
2. Develop a comprehensive study of the laws and legal motives applied to protection, conflict with the law and child witness cases –This study should highlight concrete inconsistencies between legal framework and practices
3. In close collaboration with the child protection case workers identify the type of cases willing to access justice and outline bottlenecks and challenges prior, during and after the procedures.
4. Identify opportunities in the judicial process where key stakeholders can promote practices of social accountability to children.
5. Identify and map child sensitive clauses in the legal framework designed to protect children’s best interests- for protection, conflict with the law and child witness cases.
6. Support child protection staff in delivering sessions on social accountability
7. Co-facilitate workshops, supporting trainings as and when needed
8. Contribute to public awareness, communication and advocacy campaigns, studies and documents developed by IRC related to Access to Justice Project for children when needed.
9. Identify potential areas to proactively link justice and social sectors to enhance children’s access to timely, age- and gender sensitive services;
10. Develop recommendations on how to advocate:

a)      To promote child sensitive practices based on laws

b)      Specific legal clauses that can be used to advocate for children’s best interests in all child related cases

c)       Specific advocacy opportunities related to legal framework reform

Deliverable # 1

1. Study on the type of cases willing to Access Justice
2. Outlining challenges and bottlenecks throughout the process
3. Study on the legal framework and practices applied to children, prosecuted in the Lebanese Justice system
4. Identify specific processes in the juvenile justice system where IRC can leverage influence, and advocate for practical change for children

Deliverable # 2:

Advocacy document outlining:

1. Key messages on how to promote child sensitive practices based on laws
2. Key messages using specific legal clauses to advocate for children’s best interests in all child related cases
3. Key messages to contribute to the reform of legal framework

Deliverable # 3:

1. Using their strong legal background and skills, to identify interventions and processes where IRC can propose the integration of child protection concepts into legal processes, in order to influence practices of key professionals such as police officers.
2. Recommend and support the IRC in the design and implementation of activities to integrate CP and legal services.
3. Develop workshop/training content based on themes outlined on social accountability for children and how to practically promote best practices
4. Co-facilitate workshops with IRC CP staff targeting key stakeholders in the judicial system when needed.
5. Co-facilitate trainings with IRC CP staff targeting key stakeholders in the judicial system when needed

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The assignment will involve consistent travel throughout Lebanon 

Qualifications

• University degree in social sciences law or relevant related disciplines
• Extensive knowledge of the Lebanese Judicial System
• Extended professional experience in the field of child protection and violence against
  children/domestic violence/gender-based violence/violence against women and
  girls;
• Professional experience in project management;
• Strong understanding of social (and child) protection and justice systems and social
  norms, with a particular focus on violence;
• Experience in managing complex multi-stakeholder partnerships;
• Understanding of the human rights and chill rights and international standards;
• Fluency in Arabic and English;
• Energy and enthusiasm; ability to work under pressure; good negotiation, communication
  and presentation skills. Pro-activity and strong orientation towards results.
• Excellent analytical skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, partnership building
• Excellent planning and organizational skills
• Excellent writing skills
• Willingness and availability to travel across the country

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PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

The performance of the consultant will be evaluated against
the following criteria: timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication,
and quality of the products delivered; also drive for results and a willingness
to work within a team environment will be essential and will contribute to the
performance evaluation.

SUPERVISION

The consultant will work under the supervision of the CP Coordinator, Protection Coordinator and Senior Systems Strengthening Manager.