The American Bar Association (ABA) Center for Human Rights is the ABA’s focal entity for critical human rights concerns in the United States and around the world. The ABA Center for Human Rights (ABA CHR) works to promote and protect human rights worldwide by mobilizing lawyers to help threatened advocates and vulnerable communities; rallying leading experts on vital issues; and holding abusive governments accountable under law.
Background
Armed conflicts have rampaged several countries in the Southwest Asia & North Africa (SWANA) region, including Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Syria, and Yemen, claiming a high number of civilian casualties and destroying civilian properties and infrastructure. Warring parties—supported by regional and international powers including European Union (EU) countries—have often attacked civilian targets in potential violation of international law. Renewed attention to these issues has led to increased suspicion of arms sales to the region by some suppliers, creating an opening to press for greater adherence to international law.
As such, the ABA CHR seeks to explore avenues through which to limit arms sales from major European countries, the US and UK to the SWANA region when implicated in legal and human rights violations. The Center is seeking a contracting organization or individual with expertise in creating toolkits/curricula on legal and administrative accountability mechanisms. The purpose of this consultancy is to develop a curriculum/toolkit on arms trade laws, regulations, and accountability mechanisms for dissemination in SWANA countries particularly impacted by the European, UK and US arms trade based on its two published Primers. This is a 4-month consultancy beginning in May 2024 through August 2024.
Responsibilities
· The consultant will rely on research conducted by ABA CHR on US, UK, and European laws, regulations, and accountability mechanisms that are relevant to arms sales.
· Using this research, the consultant will develop a web-based curriculum or toolkit to disseminate key information to stakeholders in the SWANA region.
· The curriculum or toolkit should:
o be easily accessible (in English, Arabic, and any other languages as agreed upon between consultant and ABA CHR);
o and clearly detail how to access accountability mechanisms in arms-exporting countries; and 3)
· Other tasks as necessary and as agreed upon between the contractor and the ABA Center for Human Rights.
Qualifications
· Demonstrated expertise in the subject matter (normative frameworks regulating the sale of arms).
· Demonstrated expertise in creating and disseminating web-based learning platforms.
· Law degree (JD, LLB, or equivalent) preferred.
How to apply
Please send the following documents in a single PDF to CHR.Opportunities@americanbar.org and CC zaid.khatib@americanbar.org by February 23, 2024 at 5pm EST.
· Statement of interest detailing your experience working on related projects, and your availability from May 2024 to August 2024. Maximum 1 page.
- A sample curriculum, toolkit, or other learning platform.
- Proposed timeline.
- Resume or CV.
- Cost estimate (per/deliverable) for each of the tasks listed above.
- Hourly rate.