Legal Research Officer

Job title: Legal Research Officer

Duty station: Globally Remote

Remuneration: Salary and Benefits will be determined by location

Contract Period: Initial 12 months with possibility of extension.

ABOUT ECPAT INTERNATIONAL

ECPAT International (ECPAT) is a global network of civil society organisations working collectively for the elimination of all forms of child sexual exploitation. We seek to encourage the world community to ensure that children everywhere enjoy their fundamental rights free and secure from all forms of sexual exploitation. The ECPAT network currently consists of 125 member organisations in 104 countries. The ECPAT Secretariat coordinates the global work of ECPAT and has a central office in Bangkok, Thailand.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Legal Research Officer conducts legal research, analysing legislation and policies and produces/oversees the production of analytical reports to build evidence, knowledge and learning that support effective internal (within the network) and external action and advocacy by ECPAT International.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develops various research publications, in particular reports/sections of reports based on legal research and alternative reports for submission with global or regional human rights mechanisms, including coordinating inputs by ECPAT network members and other partners.
• Undertakes secondary research related to national substantive and procedural legislation as well as national policies and frameworks on various forms of sexual exploitation of children.
• Conducts secondary literature reviews and desk research to map and document various legal practices to prevent and respond to the sexual exploitation of children.
• Develops and adapts various legal research and data collection methodologies for primary research focusing on topics such as access to justice and legal remedies with key stakeholders, including justice professionals, law enforcement officers, government officials, non-governmental organisations; and analyses data collected through these primary research activities, conducted directly by the Legal Research Officer or by other colleagues/partner organisations.
• Liaises and coordinates with project partners to ensure timely and successful delivery of legal research and project-related activities and ensuring among others prompt follow-ups and organising and facilitating meeting, as needed.
• Liaises with ECPAT network members and other project partners to ensure the accuracy of legal analyses and related publications.
• Supports ECPAT network members in their legal /legal research queries and requests for technical input as needed.
• Manages consultancies and partnerships linked to legal research/research-related work.
• Contributes to the development of donor proposals and reports particularly in relation to legal research/research area as requested.
• Promotes evidence-based advocacy and contributes to the development of policy briefs and dissemination, uptake and advocacy strategies for ECPAT legal research/research work.
• Collaborates with the Communications Team to promote the legal research work of the organisation, through website, social media and other targeted campaigns and dissemination plans.
• Liaises with suppliers and consultants, such as translators and editors, including contract preparation and procurement support.
• Ensures technical and language editing and verification of text and sources of key research publications as necessary.
• Works with designers to complete layout of research publications.
• Implements monitoring and evaluation processes of ECPAT’s legal research/research work to assess uptake.
• Other tasks as required to support the organisation.

Knowledge, Experience and Skills

Knowledge

• Demonstrated knowledge on human rights law, child rights, and preferably legal issues related to child sexual abuse and exploitation.
• Knowledge of legal research practices and tools.

Experience

• Three to five years of experience in conducting legal research, preferably on topics related to child sexual abuse and exploitation, and proficient in employing legal research methodologies to gather, analyse, and interpret legal information effectively.
• Experience in developing research reports;
• Experience in effectively liaising and collaborating with diverse external partners and stakeholders to ensure collaborative and well-informed research efforts;
• Experience contributing to the development of research methods and tools;
• Previous engagement with local and grassroots civil society organisations and understanding of their operating context.

Skills – technical and personal

• Ability to synthesise large amounts of information into concise formats.
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to work autonomously and multi-task.
• Excellent writing skills for a variety of audiences and skilled cross-cultural communications.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage time and meet deadlines.
• Excellent English language skills (written and spoken). Knowledge of other network languages (French/ Spanish/ Russian/ Arabic) is desirable.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree AND Master’s degree in Law with a focus in international law and/or human rights or equivalent.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This position can be internationally home-based, and candidates should have the legal right to work in that location.
• For candidates who will be working at home, an employment contract will be offered through our Employer of Record partner, depending on the candidate’s country of nationality or residence.
• Given ECPAT International’s head office is Thailand, candidates should preferably reside in the time zones, GMT 0 to GMT +6, and should have some flexibility in their working hours to accommodate international meetings.

OUR COMMITMENTS

As ECPAT’s International Secretariat we recognise that our strength lies in the diversity of the people who make up our global network, staff, volunteers and consultants. We are committed to being an inclusive workplace where people of all backgrounds and cultures can strive and be themselves. This means we will challenge ourselves to do better and to continue learning, to create and maintain a working environment steeped in respect, tolerance, safety, and where all parties are valued equally.

As a child-focused organisation, ECPAT has a strong commitment to child safeguarding and rigorous procedures. The successful candidate will be required to provide two referees (one from your last employer) and a criminal record from the country of residence or origin (as applicable).