Accountability Project Advisor (Consultancy Opportunity)

Project: Enhancing protection for Syrian victims and witnesses of atrocity crimes participating in accountability processes

Start Date: No later than December 1, 2024

End Date: September 30, 2025 with possibility for extension

Location: Europe (Paris, Berlin, The Hague, Brussels)

About CVT

The Center for Victims of Torture (CVT) aims to heal the wounds of torture on individuals, their families, and their communities, and to end torture worldwide. Our work focuses on providing healing care for survivors, advocating for justice and human rights, advancing research, and supporting the resilience of civil society partners and human rights defenders who courageously build and expand movements for change. An essential component of this work involves supporting victims and survivors as they pursue justice, including – but not limited to – formal investigations and legal action. CVT is an international non-profit, non-governmental organization headquartered in Minnesota, USA with offices in Africa and the Middle East.

Summary

The Project Accountability Advisor (Consultancy) will provide technical support to an initiative aimed at enhancing protection for Syrian victims and witnesses of international crimes participating in accountability processes, with a particular focus on third-country prosecutions and strategic litigation under the principle of Universal Jurisdiction. The project will mobilize a network of resources to address the diverse needs of victims and witnesses that compromise their well-being and safety before, during, and after potential engagement with accountability processes. It has three objectives: (1) civil society organizations are better equipped to support and protect victims and witnesses participating in accountability mechanisms; (2) victims and witnesses are better supported before, during, and after engagement with accountability mechanisms; and (3) accountability mechanisms have improved understanding of barriers to victim and witness participation, with clear recommendations for addressing them. The Project Accountability Advisor will play an important role in providing strategic advice, legal technical expertise, and networking support.

We are seeking someone who is available for 30-40 working hours per week. While the location is flexible, the Consultant must be based in and have existing legal right to work in a European country in close proximity to current and prospective accountability efforts.

Objectives

Contextual Mapping: Continuously monitor, analyze, and report developments related to formal accountability efforts aiming to bring justice for Syrian survivors of international crimes.

• Contribute to the review and analysis of existing materials, projects, and services relevant to the project goals and objectives
• Provide technical guidance and expertise to ensure the project reflects an up-to-date understanding of accountability trends, needs and gaps, and who does what and where
• Contribute to the discovery and mapping of barriers faced by witnesses and survivors in accessing and engaging with accountability mechanisms
• Identify relevant case-building efforts, investigations, and strategic litigation
• Identify experts to inform ongoing consultations, data-gathering, and contextual mapping efforts
• Working with case manager liaisons and project partners, map resources and referral pathways relevant to the project goals and objectives

Technical and Strategic Guidance: Provide expert insights and knowledge to inform project design and implementation, helping ensure activities are relevant and effective

• Apply expert knowledge in justice and accountability to project co-creation processes, consultations, implementation, and product development
• Provide technical input into the design, improvement, and maintenance of project data systems
• Contribute expertise to the production of high quality legal and advocacy materials, including briefings and reports
• Contribute to the development of trainings, guides, and other awareness materials for survivors of international crimes on formal accountability mechanisms and legal redress.

Stakeholder Networking: Identify, pursue, and maintain connections with (potential) project stakeholders, including civil society organizations, local and national authorities, and international agencies

• Cultivate relationships with and connect the project to civil society organizations, victims’ associations, national prosecutors, regional and international agencies, and other key stakeholders involved in accountability efforts
• Identify and recommend opportunities to strengthen stakeholder connections to the project activities
• Help identify and coordinate with case manager liaisons to support victims and witnesses
• Meet regularly with other experts to identify urgent and emergent issues relevant to the project goals and objectives, and report findings and recommendations to the project team
• Serve as a focal point for planning and implementing a co-design workshop with other relevant stakeholders
• Develop and spearhead new and existing partnerships with states and state institutions or third-party organizations engaging with victims and witnesses as they investigate and prosecute or human rights violations perpetrated against Syrians

Key Deliverables

• Report of existing projects, surveys, and rapid response mechanisms that are being leveraged to support Syrian victims and witnesses or could be better leveraged for this purpose
• Conduct consultations with strategic stakeholders (including witnesses and survivors, as/if appropriate) and develop a report to share findings and recommendations
• Draft weekly reports to communicate project activities, share analysis, and offer recommendations
• Organize monthly consultations with strategic stakeholders
• Plan for a Europe-based co-design convening in January 2025 with an anticipated 30 attendees working on relevant projects and familiar with related challenges and needs
• Draft and vet event materials such as event invitations, talking points, agenda, briefings, case studies, etc.

Qualifications, Experience, and Competencies

Required Qualifications and Experience:

• An academic or professional background in law, human rights or international criminal justice
• At least five years of work experience in human rights law, criminal justice, international investigations, or a related field;
• Experience working with civil society organizations and/or accountability mechanisms on strategic litigation and atrocity crime prosecutions
• A strong track record of working directly with witnesses and victims of human rights violations and/or atrocity crimes using a trauma-informed approach
• Experience collaborating with Syrian civil society organizations in Europe and globally
• Fluency in English

Desirable Qualifications and Experience:

• Experience designing or implementing accountability-related advocacy strategies and/or awareness campaigns
• Experiencing organizing both virtual and in-person events
• Arabic language skills
• Awareness of relevant approaches and frameworks for trauma-informed principles and survivor-centered justice work
• Working expertise in international human rights law as well as relevant European legal frameworks
• Familiarity with and ability to gain access to relevant justice sector stakeholders in Europe and at regional and global agencies
• Demonstrated knowledge of principles of universal jurisdiction
• Demonstrated interest in and commitment to human rights
• Comfortable with remote consultancies that require both independent and collaborative work
• Strong writing, communication and analytic skills.
• Strong diplomatic and communication skills.
• Ability to proactively and creatively drive project work forward
• Ability to work autonomously with limited supervision