Family Law and Legal Reform Expert
Organizational Context
UN Women in Bosnia and Herzegovina focuses on strengthening legal and policy frameworks for gender equality and protecting vulnerable women through legislative reforms. This role supports the Gender Equality Accelerator Joint Programme, specifically by enhancing the legal recognition and protection of single mothers. The initiative aims to align family legislation with international standards and improve linkages with social protection and care economy systems.
Job Purpose
This consultancy aims to strengthen the legal recognition and protection of single mothers in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The role involves conducting a gender-responsive legal review of family laws and related frameworks, identifying gaps, and developing evidence-based policy recommendations and draft legislative amendments. The objective is to ensure family legislation aligns with international human rights and gender equality standards, particularly the Istanbul Convention, and to foster stronger connections with social protection and care economy systems. The consultant will facilitate stakeholder consultations to ensure reforms are inclusive and responsive to women's needs.
Responsibilities
Conduct a comprehensive gender-responsive review of family, labour, social protection, anti-discrimination, and care-related legal and policy frameworks affecting single mothers. Analyze legal provisions, identify gaps, and assess alignment with international standards like CEDAW and the Istanbul Convention. Evaluate linkages between family law, social protection, and care policies. Undertake comparative legal analysis of international and regional good practices. Assess the practical implementation of legal rights and protections, including at the workplace level. Develop prioritized legislative and policy recommendations, including drafting proposed amendments to family laws with clear legal rationale. Facilitate stakeholder consultations to validate findings and proposed reforms. Support the finalization and presentation of draft amendments and provide technical advice on legislative processes.
Work Experience
Requires at least 7 years of professional experience in legislative drafting, legal analysis, or policy development. Demonstrated experience in family law, human rights law, or gender equality legislation is essential. Experience facilitating multi-stakeholder consultations and integrating gender equality and human rights standards into legislative processes is also required. Previous experience with UN agencies or international organizations is an asset.
Skills
Legislative drafting, legal analysis, policy development, family law expertise, human rights law, gender equality legislation, stakeholder consultation, integration of gender equality and human rights standards, comparative legal analysis.