Consultant (Legislative and Policy Research)

Organizational Context

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is developing a Repository of Best Practices to combat technology-facilitated violence against children. This consultancy role, based at home, supports UNODC's mandate by contributing to research and analysis on legislative frameworks related to sexual extortion, online child sexual abuse and exploitation (OCSAE), and non-consensual dissemination of intimate images (NCII).

Job Purpose

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide expert legal research and analysis to support the development of a comprehensive Repository of Best Practices for UNODC. The role will contribute to identifying and synthesizing legislative frameworks, implementation gaps, and best practices concerning sexual extortion, online child sexual abuse and exploitation (OCSAE), and non-consensual dissemination of intimate images (NCII). The findings will assist law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, and policymakers in addressing these evolving transnational crimes, ultimately strengthening international cooperation and victim protection mechanisms. The consultant will play a key role in developing research methodologies, conducting comparative legal analysis, and finalizing the repository content.

Responsibilities

Develop a research methodology and workplan, including an annotated bibliography and legislative mapping matrix. Conduct a comprehensive desk review and comparative analysis of domestic, regional, and international legislative frameworks related to sexual extortion, OCSAE, and NCII. Identify implementation gaps, areas of convergence and divergence, and opportunities for legal harmonization. Synthesize legislative best practices in criminalization, investigative procedures, international cooperation, victim support, and digital platform accountability. Present research findings and deliverables to the supervising team. Support the finalization of the Repository of Best Practices based on received feedback.

Work Experience

A minimum of one year of experience in legal research in international law, criminal law, human rights law, or cybercrime is required. Demonstrated experience in legal or policy analysis, including statutory and comparative law analysis, is also required. Experience in the criminal justice system and working with international organizations is desirable.

Skills

Legal research, legislative analysis, comparative law, policy analysis, statutory analysis, drafting, criminal justice system understanding, international law, human rights law, cybercrime, English fluency.

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