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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. 

Advert - Local consultant to conduct a legislative review related to Children’s Rights in the Maldives.

For every child, a champion!

Background

The Maldives has made significant progress on the child rights agenda and is now a leader in the South Asia region. The country provides universal access to health and education and very low maternal and child mortality. The enactment of the Child Rights Protection Act (Law No: 19/2019) and the Juvenile Justice Act (Law No: 18/2019) further strengthened the legislative framework to safeguard children’s rights, by defining the child as anyone below the age of 18 years and establishing the minimum age of criminal responsibility at 15 years. These advances are in line with international best practices and treaties including the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), to which the Maldives is a signatory.

However, children are treated differently across different legislation. For example, the Anti-Terrorism Act allows children under 15 years to be held in administrative detention, while the Juvenile Justice Act establishes the MACR at 15 years and hence no child under 15 can be placed in detention.

To better understand these discrepancies and address them, UNICEF Maldives is seeking a national legal consultant to conduct a comprehensive review of the national legislative frameworks. The consultant will be tasked with analyzing how children are defined and examine variations in their treatment across different contexts.

How can you make a difference? 

Objectives:

1. The legislative review should achieve the following
2. Conduct a systemic analysis of how various national legislative frameworks define and treat children.
3. Identify the duties and obligations of the State in relation to children as specified in different legislation.
4. Identify any inconsistencies and contradictory provisions in different legislation relating to children.
5. Assess any upcoming legislation, policies or programmes that may potentially contravene children’s rights.
6. Provide recommendations for any legal amendments, as required, to improve legal coherence and effectiveness in matters relating to children.

For the detailed Terms of Reference, please visit this link:  ToR - National Consultant for Legislative Review VA.pdf

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

Academic qualifications:

• • Master’s Degree (or higher) in Law (LLM), Public Policy, Human Rights, International Law or a related field, OR;
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LLB) with extensive experience in legislative analysis.

Knowledge, skills, and experience:

• • Minimum 8 years of experience (if with a Master’s Degree) OR minimum 10 years of experience (if with a Bachelor’s Degree) in legal research, legislative drafting or policy analysis.
  • Strong knowledge of the Maldivian legal system and child rights frameworks.
  • Knowledge of international human rights standards.

Competencies:

• • Strong legal research, analytical and writing skills.
  • Ability to keep to tight timelines.
  • Ability to lead consultations with diverse stakeholders.

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 committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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.