Medico-Legal Framework Legal Advisor (m/f/x) – Brussels – MSF Belgium At Médecins Sans Frontières

CONTEXT

The International Legal Department (ILD) of MSF is currently the only intersectional department of MSF. Primarily dedicated to support MSF operations, its field of expertise is varied, including international humanitarian law (IHL), medico-legal issues, medical research, labour law, commercial and administrative law, trademarks and international governance.

The ILD is divided in 6 Units specialized in different areas of law. The ILD Unit 2 aims at providing technical advice, policy expertise and support on medico-legal, patient’s rights and protection to MSF operations.

As the Medico-Legal Framework Legal Advisor for the Operational Centers of Brussels and Barcelona (OCB & OCBA), your objective is to provide support to operations to ensure minimum legal standards regarding medico-legal, patient’s rights and protection issues are implemented across MSF interventions. This includes:

• Fostering and promoting patient-centered healthcare provision through the respect of patients’ rights and international medical ethics in MSF’s activities
• Maximizing MSF operations’ understanding of medico-legal, patients’ rights, and protection frameworks of countries of intervention
• Minimizing risks for patients and staff arising from medico-legal, patients’ rights, and protection issues in countries of intervention

You are part of ILD Unit 2 team which is composed of 6 members. You report to the Deputy General Director of the Operational Centre where you will be hosted and are under the functional supervision of the ILD Unit 2 Legal Manager. You work closely with projects and headquarters staff working in different departments in all Operational Centres of MSF (e.g. Medical, Operations, Communications, Advocacy) and other ILD members.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide legal support and/or advice to operations on medico-legal matters and MSF legal responsibilities towards patients, namely:
  • Gender-based violence (GBV) and harmful practices
  • Torture and other forms of violence
  • Medical confidentiality
  • Consent
  • Sexual and reproductive rights (SRHR)
  • Certification
  • Protection and individual case management (notably related to minors and populations in situation of vulnerability)
  • Requests of arrest/detention/interrogation of patients
  • Requests to access patient information
• Analyze the medico-legal legal framework applicable to MSF medical and humanitarian activities in the different countries of intervention and support operations on how to best navigate it
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments concerning the medico-legal issues applicable to MSF’s medical and humanitarian activities
• Carry out visits in MSF countries of intervention to provide support to teams in the projects related to the aforementioned issues. Visits in our projects are to be defined as per operational needs and in agreement with ILD Unit 2 Manager.
• Advise projects teams in the prevention and management of legal risks arising from medico legal issues
• Ensure the dissemination and promotion among projects teams of ILD Unit 2 tools, best practices and materials
• Brief and train projects teams on issues pertaining to the medico-legal, patient’s rights and protection issues
• Ensure implementation of MSF policies on the certification for survivors of violence (SoV)
• Ensure implementation of archiving procedures related to highly sensitive data
• Develop tools and draft guidelines and memos on medico-legal matters to support projects teams
• Contribute to ILD Unit 2 intersectional work as an active member

REQUIREMENTS

Education & Experience

• Advanced university degree in law is compulsory (Master’s degree or equivalent). An academic focus on Human Rights, International Humanitarian Law, Public Health, humanitarian action, medical ethics, gender studies, protection, or another related field is considered an asset
• At least 4 years of work experience, out of which 1 should be relevant to the position
• MSF experience as Legal Advisor is an asset
• Experience with other humanitarian organizations is an asset

Competencies

• Solid understanding of issues related to SRHR, GBV, SoV, protection, and medical ethics
• Solid critical thinking and creative problem-solving; initiative; communication (public speaking, trainings, etc.); interpersonal skills; cultural awareness, leadership; teamwork; organizational skills; results-oriented approach; self-management
• IT literacy
• Motivation to work in a humanitarian organization, and more particularly with MSF

Languages

• Fluency in English, French and Spanish compulsory (both oral and written)
• Any additional language spoken in countries of MSF interventions is of significant added value, e.g. Arabic, Portuguese etc.

Other

• Availability and willingness to carry out visits to MSF interventions abroad whatever the context

CONDITIONS

• Expected starting date: 24th of June 2024
• Location*: Brussels (Belgium)
  *Due to administrative constraints, given the duration of the contract, candidates must already have the permanent right as Belgian resident or EU national and/or a valid work permit to work in the mentioned location
• Mobility during contract: eventually 1 visit of 1 week to a country of MSF intervention abroad
• Contract type: Fixed term contract – Full-time – max 50% homeworking per week
• Contract duration: 5 months (maternity cover)
• Salary according to MSF-OCB HQ grid
• Meal Vouchers – Hospital Insurance (DKV) – Pension Plan – 100% reimbursement for public transportation costs
• Adhere to the MSF principles and to our managerial values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust and Empowerment
• Adhere to the MSF Behavioral Commitments