Consultant for the development of a brief on the interlinkages between anti-corruption and human rights

Result of Service

3. Specific tasks to be performed by the consultant: Under the overall guidance and supervision of the CEB/CSS Chief, the consultant will perform the following specific tasks: 1) Develop an annotated outline of the anti-corruption and human rights brief; 2) Produce a draft anti-corruption and human rights brief, with a particular focus on, among other topics which may be identified: • How anti-corruption efforts and human rights can be mutually beneficial and reinforce each other, with a particular focus on UNCAC; • Potential challenges in addressing human rights as part of anti-corruption efforts and considerations for how to overcome them; • Specific topics of relevance to human rights including: due process rights; witnesses and whistle-blower protection; journalists and civil society; the right to information and freedom of information; and asset recovery processes. 3) For purposes of finalizing the brief, carry out consultations in the context of a small informal expert group meeting (EGM) with experts and practitioners, representing different stakeholder groups (UNODC, other international and regional organizations such as OHCHR, as well as criminal justice practitioners, civil society, academia and the private sector) and integrate relevant inputs into the brief; 4) Finalize the anti-corruption and human rights brief on the basis of comments received by UNODC as well as other relevant stakeholders involved in the process; 5) Develop a PowerPoint presentation with notes explaining the main analysis outlined in the brief. 4. Expected tangible and measurable output(s)/deliverable(s) : 1) Participation and facilitation of consultative process with experts on anti-corruption and human rights in cooperation with UNODC; 2) Anti-corruption and human rights brief is final; 3) PowerPoint presentation on anti-corruption and human rights brief is developed.

Work Location

Home-based

Expected duration

20 working days between 16 December 2024 – 14 March 2025

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Background of the assignment: The Corruption and Economic Crime Branch (CEB) of UNODC has established a leading global position in delivering support to countries to prevent and combat corruption. As the guardian of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), its UNODC Global Programme to Prevent and Combat Corruption supports States parties in the effective implementation of UNCAC in support of Sustainable Development Goal 16. As the only legally binding universal instrument to prevent and fight corruption, UNCAC provides a unique tool for developing a comprehensive, national response to a global problem. Its Implementation Review Mechanism (IRM) was established as a mandatory peer-review process aimed at supporting States parties in the implementation of the Convention through the identification of challenges, technical assistance needs and good practices in the four substantive areas covered by the Convention: prevention, criminalization and law enforcement, international cooperation and asset recovery. The promotion and protection of human rights is one of the key pillars of the United Nations System. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), proclaimed in 1948, sets out fundamental human rights to be universally protected. The General Assembly has adopted a number of treaties and instruments, including nine core international human rights instruments. The UDHR, together with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its two Optional Protocols (on the complaints procedure and on the death penalty) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and its Optional Protocol, form the so-called International Bill of Human Rights. Anti-corruption efforts and human rights are inherently interconnected and mutually reinforcing. Countering corruption fosters an environment conducive to the respect, protection and promotion of human rights, while upholding human rights bolsters anti-corruption efforts by ensuring adherence to legal principles, due process, and the rule of law. The Corruption and Economic Crime Branch of UNODC participated in the call for pledges to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and committed to, among other objectives, strengthening the human rights focus of its anti-corruption work through developing a brief by 2025 on the interlinkages between human rights and corruption, with a particular focus on the importance of due processes, witnesses and whistle-blowers protection, as well as journalists and civil society actors. The Branch also committed to further focusing on the protection of human rights in the context of asset recovery processes, as well as the right to information and the freedom to seek, receive, publish and disseminate information concerning corruption in the brief. The purpose of this project is to develop a brief on the interlinkages between human rights and corruption, with a focus on thematic areas of relevance including due process, witness and whistle-blower protection, the right to information and freedom of information, particularly in relation to journalists and civil society actors, and asset recovery. The anti-corruption and human rights brief targets multiple audiences. It is primarily intended for use by States in developing and improving legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks to implement the Convention. It is also intended for use by UNODC and other international and regional organizations in the delivery of technical assistance for the implementation of the Convention. Moreover, the brief may be used by academia and civil society in advancing human rights-related discussions concerning the implementation of the Convention. Within this framework, the Convention Support Section (CSS) of the Corruption and Economic Crime Branch (CEB) of UNODC is looking for an expert consultant to carry out the necessary research and draft the anti-corruption and human rights brief. 2. Purpose of the assignment: The purpose of the assignment is to develop the anti-corruption and human rights brief under the supervision of the Chief of the Convention Support Section, Corruption and Economic Crime Branch, and in coordination with other branches, offices and departments of UNODC, other regional and international organizations, as well as civil society, academia and the private sector, where possible. brief.

Qualifications/special skills

An advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in law, preferably in the area of international human rights law, international law or criminal law, or in criminology, international relations is required. A first level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. • A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in the field of research and legal/policy analysis in the area of crime prevention and criminal justice is required; • Knowledge of anti-corruption is required; • Experience in the field of research and legal/policy analysis related to human rights is required; • Knowledge of the United Nations Convention against Corruption is desirable; • Experience working in an international organization is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

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