Request for Expression of Interest from civil society organizations to participate in the training on trial monitoring methodology in relation to prosecution of gender based violence cases
The UNDP seeks Expressions of Interest (EoI) from active and experienced local civil society organisations (CSOs) in the area of preventing and combating gender based violence (GBV) in BiH to receive training aimed at enhancing the capacities of the CSOs in monitoring the efficiency of prosecution of this category of cases in BiH. The training will be provided by UNDP expert.
Envisaged timeframe for training delivery is in the first half of September 2010 (over a period of two days).
Project Summary
The project “Preventing and Combating Gender Based Violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH)” has been designed to address and prevent Violence against Women (VAW) and Sexual Violence (SV) and is being implemented in partnership with Agency for Gender Equality BiH, Gender Centre FBiH and Gender Centre RS. It will build on the work done in the area of GBV by UNFPA and UNDP and will provide women victims of violence, including women with special needs, access to services and protection.
By supporting key duty-bearers the project will enable improvements in legislation through increased incorporation of recommendations aimed at satisfying obligations under international human rights mechanisms, such as the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). At the same time, by raising awareness at the local level of existing legislation, the project will facilitate better implementation of the legislation through the provision of better quality services for victims of GBV in the workplace or in the home. Finally, by improving reporting mechanisms and raising public awareness through media campaigns, the project aims also to empower more female victims to seek assistance from better qualified service providers. By utilizing this multifaceted approach, the project aims to contribute to a decrease in VAW and SV in BiH over the long-term.
Background in brief
The overall goal of the project is to further reduce GBV in BIH, with special focus on VAW and SV enabling the government officials and service providers at all levels to appropriately respond to VAW and SV and to raise public awareness on GBV in the society. As a result of the project, stakeholders will be familiarised with applicable legal provisions, sensitised to all forms of VAW and SV and will be skilled to respond to them in an adequate manner. The relevant institutions from the local community, entity and state levels of government, as well as CSOs and the private sector will thereby be empowered to help reduce the occurrence of VAW and SV.
The primary beneficiaries of the project are women victims of violence, including women with special needs. Secondary beneficiaries will be the service providers, government officials at all levels including members of parliaments, judges and prosecutors, Employers Confederation, CSOs and media professionals.
One of the core project objectives is strengthening the role of civil society in monitoring court practices in relationd to prosecution of sexual and gender based violence cases. Not only does trial monitoring as a process support the right to a public trial and increases transparency in the judicial process, it can also assist the justice system in identifying areas in need of reform. In light of ongoing implementation of Judicial Sector Reform Strategy in BiH, there is an obvious need for greater involvement of civil society organisations in the work of the justice sector which would assist improved access to justice, particularly for vulnerable victims. Building professional capacities, through transfer of knowledge and skills to local individuals and organisations, to undertake trial monitoring work, will contribute to establishment of the process of local ownership and sustainability over trial monitoring activities in BiH.
Modality
Interested CSOs are encouraged to submit an expression of interest (EoI) to the contact address provided below. EoI should contain: basic information about the organisation, explanation how the training might benefit the work of the organisation in the future as well as evidence of the eligibility for the training, in line with the following criteria:
- Proven experience in working with and on behalf of victims of GBV (through the safe house, SOS line, on-line support, legal representation or advice)
- Proven experience in data analysis and preparation of reports
- Familiarity with courts practices and procedures
- Proven experience in working closely together with government counterparts and good overview of the BiH legislative framework, government structure and institutions
- Availability to establish an expert team, comprising at least one lawyer (as support personnel) and two other members of staff who would be available to attend the training
- Minimum of five years of relevant work experience on gender based violence
- Experience working with gender sensitive data collection and presentation of findings/reports.
Outputs
The aim of this Expression of Interest is to identify a pool of CSOs with capacities to undertake trial monitoring activities in BiH. Through the training, selected CSOs will be equipped with basic skills for monitoring prosecution of GBV cases, in line with relevant BiH and international legislative frameworks, and will acquire fundamental knowledge on trial monitoring standards.
On the basis of received applications, the UNDP will compile a shortlist of CSOs with proven qualifications which will be invited to attend the training on trial monitoring methodology for prosecution of GBV cases.
N.B. Selected CSOs, following completion of the training, will be eligible to apply for grants to undertake trial monitoring activities for a period of up to eight months (only one CSO per entity, of Federation of BiH and Republika Srpska, will be selected for implementation of this activity).
Submission of EoIs
The Expression of Interest must be received by UNDP no later than 20th August 2010 at 17:00 hrs.
UNDP BiH, Marsala Tita 48, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Attention: Human Resources Unit
Phone: +387 33 563800
Fax: +387 33 552330
E-mail: registry@undp.ba
Web Site: www.undp.ba
Sincerely,
UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina