International consultant on providing technical assistance to strengthening of the gender equality promotion system and mechanisms in judicial proceedings

TERMS OF REFERENCE (to be completed by Hiring Office)

Hiring Office:

UNFPA Turkmenistan CO

Title:

Individual consultant (International) On providing technical assistance to strengthening of the gender equality promotion system and mechanisms in judicial proceedings

Purpose of consultancy:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for reproductive health, dedicated to ensuring every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. By 2030, UNFPA aims to end the unmet need for family planning, preventable maternal deaths, and gender-based violence (GBV). In Turkmenistan, UNFPA plays a vital leadership role in promoting human rights and gender equality and provides technical support to the Government of Turkmenistan in the implementation of the national strategy on gender equality, National Action Plan on Gender Equality as well as in the implementation of national commitments regarding the SDGs and CEDAW.

The national data indicates 12% of women face physical or sexual abuse, the true scale remains hidden due to only 4.8% of survivors reported to seek help from formal institutions (2020); 42.7% of women justify partner violence and 70.6% reported experiencing controlling behaviours (2024). These alarming indicators highlight a critical lack of services and support to women and girls and to GBV survivors, in particular. Presently they are provided by National Red Crescent Society in the provinces and include helpline call services, psychological counselling, case management. In Ashgabat the services are provided by NGO Keyik okara and include Crisis Centre, Helpline call service and one shelter.

In August 2025 an amendment was made to the Law on Courts which introduced Family Judges and Family Psychologists in the court system to support families in crisis situations. 

The 2024 CEDAW recommendations urge Turkmenistan to transform its judiciary into an active defender of women’s rights by directly applying the CEDAW Convention in national court proceedings, elimination of mandatory "reconciliation periods" in abuse cases and establishing a seamless multi-sectoral network that links judicial actions with police, healthcare, and social services. Furthermore, CEDAW recommended that the state expand free legal aid schemes into rural provinces and institutionalize mandatory, trauma-informed capacity building for legal professionals to dismantle deep-rooted gender biases and victim-blaming practices.

To respond to the needs of the country a Work Plan for 2026-2027 was signed by the UNFPA Country Office and the Supreme Court of Turkmenistan on providing “Support to strengthening of the gender equality promotion system and mechanisms in judicial proceedings”. Within this Work Plan the Supreme Court and UNFPA will jointly conduct activities aimed at 

(1) raising awareness among judicial staff, law enforcement officers, and other public officials of the implementation of CEDAW obligations, its direct application in court rulings, as well as the development of a training manual on the application of CEDAW in decision-making and gender-sensitive judicial proceedings; 

(2) studying international experience and developing recommendations for data registration and collection on complaints and cases of discrimination against women; 

(3) studying experience, developing recommendations, and preparing a methodological manual on the training and integration of professional family psychologists into the judicial system; 

(4) developing and implementing a digital application for submitting claims and related documentations to enhance the efficiency of the judicial process and expand the access of women to justice, particularly by ensuring the priority reception of citizens in rural areas and ultimately integrating digital technologies into judicial proceedings;

(5) study of the application of temporary special measures and a national machinery with an effective mandate for gender equality and the advancement of women by members of the Working Group of the Interagency Commission for Ensuring the Implementation of Turkmenistan's International Obligations in the Field of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.

In this regard, UNFPA seeks to hire an International consultant to assist in bridging the gap between Turkmenistan’s international commitments (CEDAW) and its national judicial practice. By standardizing gender-sensitive court proceedings, enhancing the capacity of newly appointed Family Judges, formalizing psychosocial support within the judiciary, as well as advising on digital tools, the initiative seeks to eliminate systemic barriers that prevent women and girls from accessing justice in cases of domestic violence and discrimination.

Scope of work:

(Description of services, activities, or outputs)

The functions of the International consultant include the following:  

CEDAW related knowledge enhancement:

1. Research best practices, consult with national partners and develop a training manual on the application of CEDAW in decision-making and gender-sensitive litigation for staff members of the judiciary, law enforcement officers and other public officials. 
2. Research, prepare recommendations and present to national state partners international best practices on introducing Temporary Special Measures and a national machinery with an effective mandate for gender equality and the advancement of women. 
3. Conduct a thematic seminar to enhance the skills of key judicial officers, law enforcement officers and other public officials on the implementation of CEDAW obligations and the direct application of CEDAW in court decisions and gender-sensitive litigation.

Data collection and management on discrimination against women:

1. Conduct desk research and prepare a presentation on the international experience and develop recommendations for recording and collecting data on complaints and cases of discrimination against women.

Technical support for the integration of Family Judges and Family Psychologists in the judicial system structure: 

1. Conduct desk research to explore international practices, analyse practical mechanisms, and develop recommendations for integrating Family Judges and professional Family Psychologists into the judicial system.
2. Develop a methodological guide for the training and involvement of family psychologists in the structure of the judicial system structure.

3. Compile recommendations on the development of a digital application for filing claims and supporting documents in judicial practice in order to increase access to justice, ensure priority reception of citizens, especially women, living in rural areas, considering the remoteness of their place of residence, increasing the efficiency of the judicial process, and also with the aim of introducing digital technologies into judicial proceedings. 

Deliverable 1 by July 10, 2026 – 15 days

• A training manual on the application of CEDAW in decision-making and gender-sensitive judicial proceedings developed.
• Presentations on introducing Temporary Special Measures and a national machinery with an effective mandate for gender equality and the advancement of women developed.
• Presentation on the international experience and recommendations for recording and collecting data on complaints and cases of discrimination against women.

• A methodological guide for the training and involvement of family psychologists in the structure of the judicial system structure developed.

Deliverable 2 by September 30, 2026 – 6 days

5-day Country mission to complete the following:

• A thematic seminar to enhance the skills of key judicial officers, law enforcement officers and other public officials on the following:
  • implementation of CEDAW obligations and the direct application of CEDAW in court decisions and gender-sensitive litigation, as well as 
  • Temporary Special Measures;
  • A National Machinery with an effective mandate for gender equality and the advancement of women and 
  • International experience and recommendations for recording and collecting data on complaints and cases of discrimination against women conducted.
• A thematic seminar to enhance the skills of Family judges and Family psychologists following the methodological guide for the training and involvement of family psychologists in the structure of the judicial system structure and TOT for lead trainers conducted.
• Finalized versions submitted for the following:
  • A training manual on the application of CEDAW in decision-making and gender-sensitive judicial proceedings;
  • A methodological guide for the training and involvement of family psychologists in the structure of the judicial system structure.

• Recommendations for introducing Temporary Special Measures and a national machinery with an effective mandate for gender equality and the advancement of women and for recording and collecting data on complaints and cases of discrimination against women.

Deliverable 3 by November 30, 2026 – 5 days

Recommendations on the development of a digital application for filing claims and supporting documents in judicial practice in order to increase access to justice, ensure priority reception of citizens, especially women, living in rural areas, considering the remoteness of their place of residence, increasing the efficiency of the judicial process, and also with the aim of introducing digital technologies into judicial proceedings submitted.

Duration and working schedule:

Place where services are to be delivered:

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered (e.g. electronic, hard copy etc.):

Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:

Supervisory arrangements:

Expected travel:

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

Education:

• Master’s Degree in Human Rights, Law, Women’ Rights, Gender Studies, State Service or equivalent. 

Experience: 

• 7 years of experience in the work related to Family courts, gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health;
• Strong knowledge of gender issues and international experience in developing programmes and training materials related to the application of CEDAW in courts,  multi-sectoral response mechanisms and other in  the context of gender -based violence;
• Prior experience in Turkmenistan and Central Asia will be considered an asset; 
• Excellent English speaking and writing skills required. Knowledge of Russian will be considered an asset; 
• Strong analytical and effective communication skills.

Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g support services, office space, equipment), if applicable:

The consultancy fee will be calculated based on the P4 level of the UN Salary Scale for Professional and higher categories effective 1 January 2026 and will be paid in two instalments upon successful completion of all deliverables:

1st instalment: upon completion of Deliverables 1 by July 10, 2026 (15 working days).

2nd instalment: upon completion of Deliverable 2-3 by November 30, 2026 (11 working days).