The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) is a worldwide network of judges and lawyers united in affirming international law and rule of law principles that advance human rights.
We are recruiting a Legal Research Consultant to work on an ICJ project based in our office in Johannesburg, South Africa focusing on Sexual Orientation Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) in Africa between 1 September 2021 – 31 December 2021 at a fulltime effort level (ordinary office hours five days a week).
The ideal candidate has excellent oral and written English skills as well as solid research experience. They have knowledge and experience of international human rights law and a keen interest in human rights legal research and advocacy as well as a sound understanding of legal frameworks in the Africa Region and the African Human Rights System.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the supervision of the Director of the Africa Regional Programme, the Legal Researcher will contribute to implementing the ICJ’s Africa Regional Programme of work in, in particular:
- Conduct legal research including a comprehensive review of ground breaking judgements in various jurisdictions in Africa and the global South, as well as judgements from sub-regional and regional fora, relating to the rights of LGBT persons and issues of sexual orientation gender identity and expression;
- Analyze the legal and political developments in Africa and the global south relating to human rights of LGBT persons;
- Draft various legal documents including briefings, memoranda, public statements, opinion briefs and reports and press releases relating to the ICJ’s work on SOGIE in the region;
- Produce detailed memos with analysis of trends and key findings on legislation and case law in the region relating to the rights of LGBT persons and producing recommendations for positive social change;
- Engaging with various stakeholders including civil society and judges and judicial officers involved in cases relating to the rights of LGBT persons;
- Assist in various activities for the planning and implementation of various events including a judicial symposium on the rights of LGBT persons in the global south;
- Providing ad hoc support and research assistance on SOGIE to ICJ’s Africa team;
- Remaining available to attend online meetings and events during office hours on weekdays; and
- Performing other research and administrative tasks related to the completion of these tasks.
QUALIFICATIONS
The successful candidate will have:
Education & Experience
- A degree in law. Further academic studies in international human rights law is highly desirable;
- A minimum of two years of legal experience, including legal research, with non-governmental or inter-governmental organizations in Africa. Experience of legal research with a focus on matters of sexual orientation and gender expression is highly desirable;
- In-depth experience of legal and field research for advocacy purposes;
- Excellent oral and written English skills;
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a multi-cultural team.
How to apply
APPLICATIONS close on 24thAugust 2021 and should be addressed with your CV (maximum two pages), a cover letter (maximum one page) and a writing sample:
Ref: Legal Researcher SOGIE Africa Programme
By email: recruitment@icj.org
Please appreciate that due to the volume of applications, only short-listed candidates will be contacted. The ICJ is unable to respond to phone enquiries. We thank you for your understanding.
The ICJ is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity and value a diverse workforce. The ICJ’s policy is to practice a fair and non-discriminatory recruitment and selection procedure and to strive for and maintain international and multi-cultural personnel.
Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.