Consultant: Human Rights Culture At American Bar Association

About ABA ROLI
For more than 30 years, the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) has worked in more than 100 countries to strengthen legal institutions, support legal professionals, foster respect for human rights, and advance public understanding of the law and citizens’ rights. Working with government agencies, the judiciary, lawyers, bar associations, legislatures, and civil society, we design programs that respond to local needs and prioritize sustainable solutions to pressing rule of law challenges.

For more information about ABA ROLI, please visit: https://www.americanbar.org/advocacy/rule_of_law/about.html .

About the Human Rights for All Project
The Human Rights for All Project aims to strengthen the Guatemalan human rights system so that all citizens are respected and protected. Through advocacy, education, awareness-raising and training, the project will promote a culture of respect for human rights to foster the development of Guatemala.

The goal of the Human Rights for All project is to strengthen Guatemala’s human rights system. This goal will be achieved through the following objectives: Objective 1: Improve the enabling environment to prevent and mitigate human rights abuses; Objective 2: Improve the protection of human rights; Objective 3: Increase the capacity of Guatemalan civil society and selected government entities to respond to human rights abuses.

Description of the consultancy
The Ministry of the Interior, within the framework of its Strategic Plan, is promoting the strengthening of the Human Rights Directorate with the aim of developing a culture of human rights within the institution. In this context, the aim is to create a comprehensive recognition among officials that they are subject to both obligations and rights, allowing them to access internal mechanisms to file complaints related to possible human rights violations in the performance of their work.

The main objective of the consultancy is to support the Human Rights Directorate team in the design and establishment of an internal office aimed at promoting a human rights culture and addressing complaints about possible human rights violations within the Ministry of the Interior. This office should have a training role, but also offer an active space where officials can exercise and protect their rights, identifying and referring possible cases of human rights violations in their work environment.

The consultancy seeks to contribute to an institutional environment that fosters respect, protection and promotion of human rights within the Ministry, establishing an internal infrastructure that facilitates conflict resolution and the prevention of violations of the fundamental rights of staff.

Responsibilities

1. Conduct an investigation into mechanisms developed in other countries for internally handling complaints about possible human rights violations committed against staff in the course of their work.
2. Develop a detailed technical proposal for a comprehensive training mechanism in human rights culture for Ministry of the Interior staff, which will promote awareness and respect for human rights in their work performance.
3. Design the initial structure of a Mechanism for the promotion of a culture of human rights. (Note: the term “mechanism” is used generically to refer to “office”, “coordination”, etc.)
4. Internal validation of the proposal: Present the proposal for the Mechanism for the Promotion of Human Rights Culture to the key actors within the Ministry of the Interior, in order to collect suggestions and make adjustments according to institutional needs and operational viability.
5. External validation of the proposal: Submit the proposal to a validation process with relevant external actors, such as the Human Rights Ombudsman, the Presidential Commission for Peace and Human Rights, and civil society organizations, to ensure that the proposal is consistent with national and international human rights standards.
6. Prepare and present the final report

Main results

Product

Description

February 2025 – Situational study and comparative experiences

Report that contextualizes the human rights situation within the Ministry of the Interior and its dependencies between 2019 and 2023, in addition to an investigation that compiles and analyzes the objectives, functions, activities and experiences of similar bodies in Ministries of the Interior, Security and/or Justice of other countries in the region, with the purpose of identifying relevant approaches and good practices to apply in the proposed mechanism for the promotion of a culture of human rights in the MINGOB.

March 2025 – Technical proposal for training in human rights culture.

Technical document that includes a comprehensive design (curriculum) for the implementation of a continuous training mechanism in human rights aimed at the staff of the Ministry of the Interior, with the aim of promoting a culture of respect and protection of human rights within the institution.

April 2025 – Initial design of the Mechanism for the promotion of human rights culture in the MINGOB

Preliminary design that includes the strategic guidelines, definition of functions and organizational structure of the Office for the promotion of human rights culture, considering the internal structure and regulations of the MINGOB, national and international legislation.

May 2025 – Validation spaces with internal and external actors and progress reporting and systematization of comments

Conduct validation sessions (focus groups, meetings, bilateral interviews, etc.) and a report that compiles and analyzes the comments, suggestions and observations issued by key external actors, such as the Human Rights Ombudsman Institution, the Presidential Commission for Peace and Human Rights, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, among others; and civil society organizations, regarding the proposed mechanism for promoting a culture of human rights in the MINGOB.

June 2025 – Preliminary report of the Mechanism for the Promotion of Human Rights Culture and the technical training proposal validated

Adjusted proposal that reflects the comments and suggestions collected during the validation process with the aim of ensuring that the Office for the Promotion of a Culture of Human Rights is viable and effective in its implementation.

July 2025 – Final Report Mechanism for the promotion of human rights culture and technical training proposal

Final consultancy report

Final report that includes all the technical, operational and strategic details necessary for the effective implementation of the Mechanism for the Promotion of a Culture of Human Rights, which is viable and effective in its implementation and the training proposal.

Final report of the consultancy for the Project.

Ratings

1. University degree in law, sociology, political science, or related fields. Possession of a Master’s degree in any of these fields will be considered a positive consideration.
2. Advanced knowledge in the use of information search tools, artificial intelligence applied to research, and mastery of the Microsoft Office package (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
3. Mastery of English, both oral and written, for consulting external sources and writing technical documents.
4. Minimum of 10 years’ experience in the field of human rights and/or public management, preferably in Latin American contexts, either in Guatemala or in other countries in the region.
5. Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to conduct in-depth research, critical analysis and synthesis of relevant information.
• Ability to write reports, technical proposals and strategic documents with clarity, precision and coherence.
• High ability to synthesize complex information and present clear and applicable recommendations.

Interested persons who meet the profile should apply by email, including:

1. Letter of interest
2. Details of the Curriculum Vitae (No more than 5 pages)
3. Financial claim (daily rate in dollars)
4. Unified Tax Registry (RTU)

Applications must be completed on the application webpage. Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis until January 31, 2025.

The American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative is committed to supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in all of its programs. Individuals who self-identify as belonging to marginalized, vulnerable, or underrepresented populations/communities are especially encouraged to apply. In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with the American Bar Association , please call 312-988-5188.

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About ABA ROLI
For 30 years, the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) has worked in more than 100 countries to strengthen legal institutions, support legal professionals, foster respect for human rights, and advance public understanding of the law and citizen rights. In collaboration with government agencies, the judiciary, lawyers, bar associations, legislatures, and civil society, we design programs that are responsive to local needs and that prioritize sustainable solutions to pressing rule of law challenges.

For more information on ABA ROLI, please visit: https://www.americanbar.org/advocacy/rule_of_law/about.html.

About the Human Rights for All
The Human Rights for All project aims to strengthen the Guatemalan human rights system so that all citizens are respected and protected. Through advocacy, education, awareness-raising, and capacity building, the project will promote a culture of respect for human rights to foster the further development of Guatemala.

The goal of the Human Rights for All project is to strengthen Guatemala’s human rights system, this goal will be advanced by the following objectives: Objective 1: The enabling environment to prevent and mitigate human rights abuses is enhanced; Objective 2: The protection of human rights is improved; Objective 3: The capacity of the Guatemalan civil society and selected government entities to respond to human rights abuses is increased.

Description of Consultancy
The Ministry of the Interior, within the framework of its Strategic Plan, is promoting the strengthening of the Human Rights Directorate with the objective of developing a human rights culture within the institution. In this context, it seeks to create a comprehensive recognition among officials that they are subjects of both obligations and rights, allowing them access to internal mechanisms for filing complaints related to possible human rights violations in the performance of their work.

The main objective of the consultancy is to support the Human Rights Directorate team in the design and establishment of an internal office for the promotion of a human rights culture and the handling of complaints about possible human rights violations within the Ministry of the Interior. This office should have a training role, but also offer an active space where civil servants can exercise and protect their rights, identifying and referring possible cases of human rights violations in their work environment.

The consultancy seeks to contribute to an institutional environment that fosters respect, protection, and promotion of human rights within the Ministry, establishing an internal infrastructure that facilitates conflict resolution and the prevention of violations of the fundamental rights of personnel.

Responsibilities

1. Conduct an exploration of mechanisms developed in other countries for internal attention to complaints about possible human rights violations committed against personnel in the course of their work.
2. Prepare a detailed technical proposal for a comprehensive human rights culture training mechanism for Ministry of the Interior personnel, to promote awareness and respect for human rights in the performance of their duties.
3. Design the initial structure of a mechanism for the promotion of a human rights culture (Note: the term “mechanism” is used generically to refer to “office”, “coordination”, etc.).
4. Internal validation of the proposal: Present the proposal of the Mechanism for the Promotion of Human Rights Culture to key actors within the Ministry of the Interior, to gather suggestions and make adjustments according to institutional needs and operational feasibility.
5. External validation of the proposal: Submit the proposal to a validation process with relevant external actors, such as the Human Rights Ombudsman, the Presidential Commission for Peace and Human Rights, and civil society organizations, to ensure that the proposal is consistent with national and international human rights standards.
6. Prepare and present the final report.

Key Deliverables

Product

Description

February 2025 – Situation study and comparative experiences

Report that contextualizes the human rights situation within the Ministry of the Interior and its dependencies between 2019 and 2023, in addition to a research that compiles and analyzes the objectives, functions, activities and experiences of similar instances in Ministries of the Interior, security and/or justice in other countries of the region, with the purpose of identifying relevant approaches and good practices to apply in the proposal of the mechanism for the promotion of the culture of human rights in the MINGOB.

March 2025 – Technical proposal for training in human rights culture.

Technical document that includes a comprehensive design (curriculum) for the implementation of a mechanism for continuous training in human rights for the staff of the Ministry of the Interior, with the objective of promoting a culture of respect and protection of human rights within the institution.

April 2025 – Initial design of the Mechanism for the promotion of human rights culture in the MINGOB.

Preliminary design that includes the strategic guidelines, the definition of functions and the organizational structure of the Office for the promotion of human rights culture, considering the internal structure and regulations of the MINGOB, national and international legislation.

May 2025 – Validation spaces with internal and external stakeholders and progress report and systematization of comments.

Carry out validation spaces (focus groups, meetings, bilateral interviews, etc.) and report that compiles and analyzes the comments, suggestions and observations issued by key external actors, such as the Human Rights Ombudsman Institution, the Presidential Commission for Peace and Human Rights, Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, among others; and civil society organizations, with respect to the proposal of the mechanism for the promotion of human rights culture in the MINGOB.

June 2025 – Preliminary report of the Mechanism for the promotion of human rights culture and the technical training proposal validated.

Adjusted proposal that reflects the comments and suggestions gathered during the validation process with the objective of ensuring that the Office for the promotion of human rights culture is viable and effective in its implementation.

July 2025 – Final report on the Mechanism for the promotion of human rights culture and the technical training proposal

Final consultancy report

Final report that includes all the technical, operational and strategic details necessary for the effective implementation of the Mechanism for the promotion of human rights culture to be viable and effective in its implementation and the training proposal.

Final report of the consultancy for the Project.

Duration
The duration of the consultancy will be for no more than 6 months, February to July 2025

Qualifications

1. University degree in law, sociology, political science, or related areas. Possession of a Master’s degree in any of these fields will be a plus.
2. Advanced knowledge in the use of information search tools, artificial intelligence applied to research, and command of the Microsoft Office package (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
3. Proficiency in English, both oral and written, for the consultation of external sources and the drafting of technical documents.
4. Minimum 10 years of experience in the field of human rights and/or public management, preferably in Latin American contexts, either in Guatemala or in other countries of the region.
5. Skills:

– Demonstrated ability to conduct in-depth research, critical analysis, and synthesis of relevant information.
– Ability to write reports, technical proposals and strategic documents with clarity, precision, and coherence.
– High ability to synthesize complex information and present clear and actionable recommendations.

Interested and qualified individuals should submit their applications by email, including:

1. Cover Letter
2. Detailed Curriculum Vitae (no more than 5 pages)
3. Economic Proposal (daily rate in dollars)
4. Unified Tax Registration (RTU)

Applications should be completed in the job posting website. Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis until January 31, 2025.

The American Bar Association is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation to apply for a position with the American Bar Association, please call 312-988-5188.