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| Legal Officer at Danish Refugee Council |
Legal Officer at Danish Refugee Council
Employment category: H
Reporting to: GBV Team leader
Unit/department: Protection
Location: Duty Station: Kasulu/Nyarugusu
Overall purpose of the role:
The Gender based violence (GBV) Legal Officer works as part of DRC’s team under the direct supervision of the GBV Team Leader and guidance and support of the Protection Coordinator and Protection Manager. The role is based in Kasulu/Kibondo and shall conduct regular field visits to the host villages near by Nyarugusu and Nduta refugee camp. The position holder will require working with women, men, boys and girls both from Nduta/Nyarugusu refugee camps and local community in the villages near by the camp.
The DRC GBV Legal officer is responsible to ensure GBV survivors have access to life-saving care, improved protection and envisions a country in which women, men, boys and girls are respected, have access to essential services and opportunities, and live free from violence.
She/he will work closely with other GBV team members, DRC sectors and implementing partners. The position reports to the GBV Team leader.
Program Responsibilities
- Adhere to GBV guiding principles to ensure the safety of the survivor and their children; and staff involved at all times, respect the confidentiality of the information provided by GBV survivors, if using interpreters, interpreters must be trained on respecting confidentiality, and conduct interviews in private settings. Maintain a non-judgmental manner and respect the survivor decision.
- Provide legal counseling for GBV survivor regarding potential avenues of legal response; Respect the right to be informed on the details of the legal procedures, including available options, time frame and the consequences.
- Provide and facilitate legal access to all GBV Survivors who opt for legal action include accompany and escort GBV Survivors to Police station and Court whenever requested i.e. by ensuring GBV Survivors and witness summoned to court attend court sessions; Respect the right to legal aid, including the right to refuse legal aid at any time prior or -depending on the type of the crime committed- during legal process.
- Coordinate with the Prosecutor, pre-court legal counseling and preparation support to GBV Survivors, witnesses and medical experts before court sessions i.e. District Courts, Primary Courts.
- Continually update the GBV Psychosocial Officer about the survivors’ case and link the survivor with the case worker for ongoing psychosocial support or referral to additional services.
- Monitor GBV survivor’s overall security risk as a result of pursuing legal action; ensure the survivor is protected against any risks of further offence that the alleged offender may cause and link the survivor with the Psychosocial Officer / GBV Case Workers to provide adequate response/referral to ensure needs and security concerns of the survivors are met.
- In collaboration of GBV Team leader and Protection coordinator monitor the situation of the survivor even after the finalization of legal proceedings to prevent retaliation or secondary victimization at the hands of the perpetrator, the perpetrator’s family or friends, as well as to address stigmatization by the community.
- Conduct different trainings to different groups in the camp on Tanzanian and international law, as it relates to women and girl’s protection from GBV to the Police, Community watch team, women’s representatives, Zone Leaders, religious leaders, other community representatives, service providers and implementing partners.
- Conduct GBV related-legal information dissemination (legal aid clinics) or other targeted legal activity in different zones in the camp to increase awareness in preventing and responding to GBV incidents.
Data collection and reporting
- Monitor all cases sent to court by using a tracking system as well as follow-up;
- Contributing for developing, drafting and update legal guidelines, and training materials on GBV related to Tanzanian law and/or international law.
- Ensure proper and safe legal documentation, case information, data security and storage. Utilization of GBVIMS consent form, legal intake form, action plan. All forms must use accurately and appropriately, strictly follow data protection protocol and confidentiality; maintain confidentiality with regards to client information at all times.
- Track indicators and analyze data on all legal counseling, legal access, including those where legal action is not pursued or has been pursued but subsequently failed.
- Prepare and submit timely and quality monthly and donor reports as per the donor requirements, including assist in proposal input on access to justice gaps, and needs.
- Support and working closely with GBV Team leader on program data collection.
Coordination
- Following up on cases with law enforcement bodies to ensure that the rights of the survivor are promoted and protected throughout the legal process,
- Advocate with court official where there are gaps in dispensing the justice system,
- Link and coordinate with other services providers ensure integrated approaches to access to justices e.g. TRCS, MSF, Judiciary etc.
- Participate in coordination meeting with Legal actors so as to smoothen the process of access to legal justices to GBV Survivors; including conduct weekly meetings with Gender and Child Desk Police, SGBV WG, CP WG to build capacities on survivor centers while handling cases.
- Supervise and capacitate paralegal refugee staffs including GBV and Tanzania Law through training, daily mentor, weekly meeting, including manage refugee staff planning and budgeting.
Education:
- Bachelor degree in law with at least 3 year’s relevant work experience
Core competencies Basic Advanced Expert
- Striving for excellence
- Collaborating
- Taking the lead
- Communicating
- Demonstrating integrity
Languages:
Swahili and good English written and oral skills required. French and Kirundi is an added advantage
Key stakeholders:
- DRC programme staff (protection and others)
- Refugees and donors
- Local Government and host Community representatives.
- Referral partners
•Basic: I master the essentials, but may at times need help from others
•Advanced: I can work independently at full professional level.
•Expert: I am the go-to person when others need help.
DRC as an employer
By working in DRC, you will be joining a global workforce of around 8000 employees in 40 countries. We pride ourselves on our:
- Professionalism, impact & expertise
- Humanitarian approach & the work we do
- Purpose, meaningfulness & own contribution
- Culture, values & strong leadership
- Fair compensation & continuous development
DRC’s capacity to ensure the protection of and assistance to refugees, IDP’s and other persons of concern depends on the ability of our staff to uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. DRC conducts thorough and comprehensive background checks as part of the recruitment process.
Danish Refugee Council is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive and positive work environment based on mutual respect for all employees. All applicants are considered for employment without attention to race, age, ability, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other factor. At DRC we celebrate diversity and appreciate our employees for the people they are and their unique skills, backgrounds, and perspectives. We encourage all interested candidates to apply!
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