Legal consultant to support the Regional Action Plan on Human Rights Defenders in Environmental Matters of the Escazú Agreement

The consultant will provide substantive, technical, and legal support to the ECLAC team and the Secretariat of the Escazú Agreement in the implementation of the project on the Regional Action Plan on Human Rights Defenders in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean, contributing to, inter alia, the following activities. • Prepare and consolidate substantive agenda notes, meeting minutes, analytical summaries, and supporting documentation for the ad hoc working group on human rights defenders in environmental matters; • Draft and contribute to substantive and technical documents, recommendations, and implementation tools related to the Regional Action Plan on Human Rights Defenders; • Conduct legal and policy research and ensure the systematic update of relevant legislation, public policies, jurisprudence, and related information in the Observatory on Principle 10, as the clearinghouse mechanism of the Escazú Agreement; • Contribute substantively to the monitoring, follow-up, and reporting processes related to the implementation of the Regional Action Plan on Human Rights Defenders, including the identification of progress, challenges, and emerging trends at the national and regional levels; • Develop substantive resources, technical materials, and capacity-building tools aimed at strengthening awareness, implementation, and understanding of article 9 of the Escazú Agreement and the Regional Action Plan; • Provide technical and analytical inputs to support the work of the Secretariat and coordination with relevant stakeholders, including governments, civil society organizations, experts, and international organizations, on matters related to environmental human rights defenders.

Under the supervision of the responsible officer, the consultant will substantively support the implementation of the Regional Action Plan on Human Rights Defenders in Environmental Matters by performing the following tasks: • Provide substantive and technical-legal support to the ad hoc working group on human rights defenders in environmental matters, including the preparation of analytical inputs, specialized recommendations, and technical proposals; • Lead and develop awareness-raising, capacity-building, and public participation activities related to the implementation of the Regional Action Plan and article 9 of the Escazú Agreement; • Conduct specialized legal research and substantive analysis on issues related to the protection of human rights defenders in environmental matters; • Undertake comprehensive analysis of legal texts, national legislation, case law, international instruments, and other relevant materials, with a view to identifying regional trends, regulatory gaps, implementation challenges, and good practices concerning the protection of human rights defenders in environmental matters; • Prepare legal studies, technical reports, concept notes, background documents, and other specialized analytical outputs required under the framework of the project; • Draft, review, and consolidate technical documents, internal memoranda, substantive proposals, and other strategic materials in support of the implementation of the project and the work of the Secretariat; • Provide substantive and technical coordination for the preparation and implementation of meetings, consultations, workshops, and events related to human rights defenders in environmental matters, including the preparation of agendas, working documents, and expected outcomes; • Formulate technical recommendations and proposals aimed at strengthening the implementation of article 9 of the Escazú Agreement and the Regional Action Plan; • Maintain technical coordination with relevant stakeholders, including government representatives, experts, civil society organizations, and international organizations, on matters related to the protection of environmental human rights defenders; • Perform any other substantive or technical tasks related to the implementation of the project, as requested by the Secretariat.

The consultant must hold a first-level university degree in law and an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, sustainability, or a related field. The consultant shall have at least 15 years of relevant experience in the area of environmental law and policy, including demonstrated experience in human rights and environmental matters. Experience within the United Nations system and in matters related to the Escazú Agreement is desirable.

The consultant needs to be fluent in written and spoken Spanish and have an advanced level in written and spoken English.

Not available.