UN Women: Access to Justice Consultant, Soim Wokabaut: EU Gender Based Violence Referral Pathways, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, International Consultant

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

Gender inequality in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is severe, with the country ranked 169 out of 170 globally. Women and girls face high rates of gender-based violence (GBV) and low literacy levels. The DHS 2016-2018 indicates that 54% of women have experienced GBV in the past year, and nearly 23% of women aged 15-49 have no formal education.  Structural barriers, cultural norms, and weak protection systems worsen the situation. Tribal conflicts, sorcery accusation-related violence (SARV), and small arms proliferation, especially in the Highlands, increase violence. Despite policies to reduce discrimination, comprehensive strategies are urgently needed to address these issues and achieve gender equality. Additionally, ongoing conflicts have displaced communities, further exacerbating GBV incidents. The persistence of these challenges highlights the critical need for targeted interventions to promote social stability and human rights and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly 05 on gender equality, 10 Reduce Inequality and 16 Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions.

Building on the gains of the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative to Eliminate Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in Papua New Guinea (PNG), UN Women, UNFPA and UNOPS (Agencies) have commenced implementation of a joint initiative entitled “Soim Wokabout: Gender-Based Violence Referral Pathways Programme”, financed under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI Global Europe).  The joint programme aims to reduce the incidence of GBV in communities in target provinces, including in and out of schools (Eastern Highlands and the National Capital District).  This will capitalize on existing programmes addressing specific forms of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHRs) while supporting prevention and protection efforts for GBV survivors, strengthening access to justice, and ending violence against women and girls at national, provincial, district, and community levels.  It seeks to scale up effective integrated approaches to deliver quality coordinated services, strengthen referral pathways, mobilize communities and networks to address harmful gender and social norms fuelling GBV and SARV and promote implementation of laws and policies to reduce GBV and SARV while mobilizing national, provincial and community leadership on the programme’s investments to enhance sustainability.  It also aims to ensure that the proposed interventions are aligned with Papua New Guinea's constitutional and legislative framework and comply with the State's obligations under applicable international human rights treaties, including CEDAW, the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

The joint programme’s specific objectives are: 1. To increase access of women, men, girls and boys in all their diversity, experiencing gender-based violence, to essential quality services, protection and justice. 2. To improve advocacy and agency of civil society organisations, women’s rights organisations, social movements and communities to end gender-based violence (GBV).  3. To make more effective the engagement of community leaders, male advocates and influential groups and actors in society in changing discriminatory social norms, gender stereotypes, GBV and harmful practices.

UN Women PNG seeks an International Consultant with specialized expertise in enhancing the institutional capacity of medical, legal and police service providers to deliver survivor-centred, gender-responsive and coordinated services. The intervention also seeks to improve women's and girls' access to justice through strengthened referral pathways, quality probing/investigative services, rehabilitation support and psychosocial services. A critical challenge identified during the programme's inception is the weak medical-legal link in the justice referral pathway. Poor medical records, inaccurate evidence, and the non-appearance of medical workers to testify in court have led to low conviction rates for sexual violence cases. Furthermore, user fees for medical examinations and reports act as a significant barrier to survivors seeking justice. Against this background, this consultancy aims at strengthening the capacity of medical, legal and police institutions to provide coordinated, survivor-centred and gender-responsive responses to violence against women and girls, while improving access to justice and essential support services, including investigative (probing), rehabilitation and psychosocial services.

This assignment is based in Port Moresby with expected travel to the field. The Consultant will provide technical legal advice to strengthen compliance of medico-legal procedures with national legislation, evidentiary requirements and international human rights standards to improve the admissibility and reliability of evidence in GBV and SARV cases and improve access to justice.  

Under the overall leadership of the Country Representative and direct supervision of the Deputy Country Representative the National Consultant will provide expert technical assistance and guidance through performing the following key tasks and delivery of the expected results. Throughout the consultancy, the consultant will receive support from UN Women EVAW team and input from the implementing agencies – UN Women, UNFPA and UNOPS where necessary. 

The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Conduct consultations with key stakeholders, including police, prosecution, judiciary, health authorities, legal aid providers, social welfare and civil society organizations.
• Review existing policies, protocols, standard operating procedures and training materials relating to violence against women and girls.

• Conduct a rapid institutional capacity assessment identifying strengths, gaps and priority capacity development needs. 
• Conduct consultations with Department of Justice and Attorney General (DJAG), PNG Law Society, Office of the Public Prosecutor (OPP) and Office of the Public Solicitor (OPS).
• Conduct a rapid assessment of rehabilitation and psychosocial support services in the target provinces to identify availability, coverage gaps, referral practices, cost barriers and compliance with survivor-centred standards, validated with the provincial FSV Committee.
• Develop or adapt a comprehensive capacity strengthening package covering:

1. Survivor-centred and trauma-informed approaches;
2. Gender-responsive investigation and evidence collection;
3. Medical-legal documentation and forensic procedures;
4. Referral pathways and case coordination;
5. Psychosocial support and rehabilitation services;
6. Ethical standards, confidentiality and informed consent;
7. National laws and international human rights standards.
8. Facilitate capacity strengthening workshops for medical personnel, police officers, legal practitioners and other relevant service providers.

• Design and deliver Pre and posttest evaluation tools
• Design and deliver training modules for medical workers and police on providing accurate medical evidence, witness obligation, confidentiality, informed consent and survivor’s legal rights throughout criminal proceedings, maintaining proper records, and effectively testifying in court.
• Facilitate engagement with the PNG Law Society, the Office of the Public Prosecutor (OPP), and the Office of the Public Solicitor (OPS) to build capacity on prosecution and establish pro-bono service mechanisms for survivors.
• Train Village Court officials on the legal frameworks of GBV/SARV, specifically regarding the administration of Interim Protection Orders (IPOs) and proper data collection for case reporting

The selected Consultant will be expected to complete the following key-deliverables within the indicative timeframe: 

• Inception report with detailed workplan and methodology. (Week 2 - 4)
• Initial consultations with RPNGC, Judiciary, Correctional Services, Provincial Heath Authority, DJAG, Office of the Public Prosecutor and Public Solicitor, PNG Law Society and key partners. (Week 4 - 5)

Payment 10%

• Training Package (facilitator guide, participant manual, presentations and resource materials). 
• Capacity Assessment Report including probono services, rehabilitation and psychosocial mapping and gap analysis report.

• Standardized training materials for police and health workers.
• Rollout trainings for police and health workers on medico-legal evidence collection, witness obligation, confidentiality, consent, survivor’s rights, documentation, record management conducted
• Roll out trainings for Village Court officials on GBV/SARV legal frameworks, IPO administration and case data collection, comprising a facilitator guide, plain-language bench aid on the Family Protection Act and IPO issuance procedures, and standardised IPO and case-reporting forms.
• Training report including participant evaluations and recommendations developed.
• Week 10 - 21, payment 30%

• Submit final consultancy report documenting achievements, lessons learned, recommendations and sustainability plan. (Week 22 - 26), payment 25%

The due dates for each of the deliverables will be agreed upon following further discussion with the selected consultant. The consultant will be expected to review and finalise the detailed workplan and timeline in consultation with UN Women for all deliverables. All deliverables will be presented in electronic version in English.

It is expected that the selected consultant shall begin work by 1st December 2026, with work being completed by 31 May 2027 in conformity with the Deliverables and Timeframe described in Section 3. 

The consultant will work under the direct supervision and technical guidance of UN Women Papua New Guinea Deputy Country Representative with technical guidance from Technical Specialist and EVAW programme unit and will conduct regular briefings on the progress at each stage of the assignment. During the field work baseline study, the consultant will be supported by members of the UN Women PNG team. 

The Contractor's performances will be evaluated against such criteria as timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication, accuracy, and quality of the products delivered.

Payment will be disbursed upon submission and approval of deliverables and timesheets with actual days worked and certification by the Deputy Country Representative that the services have been satisfactorily performed. UN Women PNG will cover the cost of all field work including travel. 

Payment will be made within 30 (thirty) days after receipt and acceptance of the specified deliverable and corresponding invoice but only after UN Women have certified that the services have been satisfactorily performed by the Consultant.

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Leading by Example.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework: 

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Law, human rights, gender/women’s studies, international development, social sciences, or a related field is required 
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. 

• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience in legal and policy support, strengthening social accountability mechanisms, advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment, and ending violence against women and girls (EVAWG).
• Demonstrated experience in developing and reviewing standard operating procedures (SOPs), technical guidelines, training manuals, policies, or legal and regulatory frameworks, preferably within the health, justice, or gender-based violence (GBV) sectors is desirable.
• Knowledge of international human rights standards, gender equality frameworks, and global and regional commitments to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls. Familiarity with Papua New Guinea’s legal and policy frameworks, including the Family Protection Act, the SARV National Action Plan, and the National GBV Strategy, is an asset.
• Proven experience in planning and facilitating dialogues, consultations, and technical events involving government institutions, women’s rights organizations, civil society organizations (CSOs), development partners, and other relevant stakeholders is desirable.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to translate complex legal, medical-legal, and policy concepts into clear, accessible, and context-appropriate information for diverse audiences.
• Experience working with government institutions, justice and law enforcement agencies, health-sector institutions, civil society, and the United Nations system is desirable.
• Experience in Papua New Guinea or the Pacific region is an advantage.

• Excellent verbal and written English is required.

• Candidate is required to submit cover letter outlining relevant work experience (please describe your specific thematic area(s) of expertise). 
• At least 2 writing samples/written works/ briefs/ products developed and endorsed in GEWE or EVAW (must be a sample where the applicant was directly responsible for writing) will be requested from the shortlisted candidates only.

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)

Note: Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history, are completed. If all sections are not completed the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.