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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, Child Protection 

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

Georgia ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1994. Since then, the state has taken steps to implement the CRC principles  through the development of relevant legislation and institutions, as well as building the capacity of those who have the power to ensure the rights of children are realized and protected. Since 2005, Georgia launched a series of reforms in areas concerning education, childcare, child protection and justice. The reforms led to the development of new legislation that focuses on the well-being of children, protection of children from violence and neglect, adoption and foster care, child-friendly justice and accessible, quality and inclusive education.

In 2015, the Juvenile Justice Code introduced the key principles and legal safeguards for protecting the rights of children in contact with criminal justice system. Mandatory specialization of criminal justice professionals (including judges) was introduced through trainings in juvenile justice. In September 2019, the child-friendly justice reform agenda was broadened in Georgia by adoption of the Code on the Rights of the Child which introduced key concept and major components of child-friendly justice in civil and administrative domains, and the systemic specialization of justice professionals, including criteria of selection, preparatory and continuous trainings, professional development and career advancement, quality control and ethical standards. 

In 2021, UNICEF, in cooperation with the Embassy of France in Georgia, initiated a dialogue on the introduction of child judges as set by the Code on the Rights of the Child and the Juvenile Justice Code of Georgia. Furthermore, in February 2023, UNICEF initiated a policy workshop with all key stakeholders, which also highlighted the need for in-depth systemic specialization of judges. A new phase of cooperation between UNICEF and the Embassy of France aims to support the implementation of the Code on the Rights of the Child and the Juvenile Justice Code of Georgia through promoting the concept of a specialized child judge in the center of policy discussions on the child-friendly justice reform in Georgia.

The Code on the Rights of the Child of Georgia introduced an obligation of the Parliament, the Government and municipalities to undertake the child rights impact assessment (CRIA) and evaluation (CRIE) before and after the development and implementation policymaking, legislative, and budget-planning processes, in the development and implementation of the State and Municipal programmes . The Committee on the Rights of the Child calls on the States Parties to assess the impact on children’s rights of all policies, laws and budgetary decisions as a matter of standard practice to determine whether children’s best interests are being served . Such assessments can be conducted in two distinct forms: ex-ante, before legislation is enacted (Child Rights Impact Assessment, CRIA), and ex-post (Child Rights Impact Evaluation, CRIE), after implementation.

In the current national context, UNICEF intends to explore the initiation of a CRIA/CRIE to inform decision-makers and encourage discussions on the impact of a law(s) on children’s rights. At this stage, it has been agreed to focus on the initial screening/assessment of one Law as the first step of  CRIA.  Specific objectives of this initial screening/assessment imply to obtain accurate information through evidence-based methodology around possible impacts on children of the Law, to identify potential mitigating actions to minimize impact on children’s rights, to explore the need for conducting a full CRIA and lay ground for the establishment of a comprehensive CRIA mechanism as required by the Code.

With regards of the development of the concept of a specialized child judge, and the preparation of the  ground for CRIA,  UNICEF seeks to engage a national expert who will provide technical assistance to accomplish both initiatives along with other related tasks in close cooperation with the international experts.

Scope of Work:

The main objective of this national consultancy is to support the development a comprehensive concept on specialized child judges, and to provide technical assistance with the preparation of the initial screening of one law along with other tasks for the implementation of CRIA. The national consultancy will be accomplished in close cooperation with international experts.

The National Consultant is expected to perform the below specific tasks in collaboration with UNICEF and international experts:

Support the development of a concept of a specialized child judge:

• Conduct an assessment/analysis of the national legal framework concerning a specialized child judge along with key recommendations and merge it within the analysis prepared by an international expert;
• Provide technical assistance to prepare methodology, semi-structured questionnaires and other materials for the consultations with the judiciary, individual judges, professionals, state agencies, CSOs, and children;
• Participate in the consultations with UNICEF, judges, state agencies, CSOs, and in the review of the findings of the consultations to agree on the next steps for the development of the concept;
• Provide technical assistance to prepare a 2-day workshop by an international expert for the judiciary;
• Support the development of an initial version on the concept of specialized child judge in collaboration with the international expert and participate in the workshop for its discussion with stakeholders;
• Support the finalization of the concept of a specialized child judge in collaboration with the international expert.
• Support the preparation of an initial screening of one law:
• Provide technical assistance for preparation of an initial screening with the agreed methodology, content and procedures in line with the guidance and recommendations by an international expert;
• Provide technical assistance to organize a 2-day workshop led by an international expert with UNICEF and partners (if relevant) on further follow up on the results of the initial screening as well as the establishment of the Child Rights Impact Assessment mechanism as envisaged by the Code on the Rights of the Child;
• Contribute to the development of recommendations  for the establishment of CRIA mechanism as required by the Code on the rights of the Child;
• Perform other tasks as required.  

Duration: October 2024- January 2025.

Location: Home based

Work Assignment Overview:

^[1] The four core principles of the Convention are: non-discrimination; devotion to the best interests of the child; the right to life, survival and development; and respect for the views of the child.

[1] Article 73 (4) of the Code on the Rights of the Child.

[1] Art. 82 of the Code https://matsne.gov.ge/ka/document/view/4613854?impose=translateEn&publication=4

[1] UN CRC General Comment #5 on General Measures of Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (2003), Section E – Monitoring implementation - the need for child impact assessment and evaluation

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

Masters  degree in law or international law, social science, or related fields

•              At least 8 years of working experience in human rights/child rights, and matters related to child-friendly justice and child justice reform, including policy and legislative development and implementation

•              Excellent knowledge of relevant national and international standards and practice in the area of child-friendly justice  and child rights

•              Excellent communication and negotiation skills in Georgian and English.

•              Excellent writing skills in Georgian and English.

•              Previous experience of collaboration with the UN/UNICEF is an asset

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check. 

Remarks:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.