Lead Legal Expert: Documentation Procedures for Victims of Trafficking

About the role

IOM in the Republic of Moldova is running a project to reduce community-level vulnerabilities to trafficking in persons (TIP) and help victims of crime, including trafficking victims, access protection and assistance. The main beneficiary, MLSP, needs a concise evidence base on the main documentation bottlenecks and ways to resolve them. This is a consultancy contract for a Lead Legal Expert, working in a team with a Supporting Legal Expert for up to 10 working days, reporting to the IOM program coordinator.

Key responsibilities

• Agree with MLSP and IOM on priority issues, methodology, institutions, cases and division of work.
• Review legislation, regulations, procedures and guidance on identity, civil status, residence, migration and travel documents.
• Analyse anonymised trafficking cases and interview stakeholders such as the Public Services Agency, the Ministry of Justice, prosecutors, courts and civil society.
• Document priority legal, administrative and coordination gaps and distinguish issues needing coordination versus regulatory or legislative action.
• Contribute recommendations and a practical roadmap for MLSP, validate findings with stakeholders and lead the analysis and coordination of the Supporting Legal Expert.
• Draft, quality-assure and submit the joint inception note, preliminary gap analysis, validation materials, final report and roadmap in Romanian.

Required profile

• University degree in law; an advanced degree in law, human rights, criminal justice or a related field is an asset.
• At least seven years of relevant legal experience, including substantial work on trafficking, victims' rights, criminal justice or human rights.
• Practical experience as an attorney, judge, prosecutor, human rights defender or legal expert advising on victims' rights.
• Experience analysing legislation and procedures, and extensive knowledge of trafficking cases and their documentation barriers.
• Experience with public authorities, justice-sector actors, international organisations, legal aid providers or civil society; experience leading legal assessments and coordinating another expert.

Required skills

• Fluency in Romanian and English; knowledge of Russian is an asset.
• Strong legal research, analysis, drafting and communication skills.
• Ability to produce analytical reports, recommendations and roadmaps.

Deliverables are due by 25 December, in editable electronic format. IOM covers consultants against occupational accidents and illnesses under its compensation plan, and offers reasonable accommodation during recruitment.