Consultant – Women’s Bureau Policy Issues & Legislations - MWCD
 UN Women – United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
 Location: New Delhi, India
 Last Date: September 7, 2011

Date  of  Issue:    01 September  2011

Closing Date:       07 September 2011  

SSA Announcement No. UNWOMEN/SRO/2011/014 

Job Code Title        :     Consultant –  Women’s Bureau  Policy Issues &  Legislations - MWCD 

Organization           :     UN Women – United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women

Direct supervisor   :     Director, Ministry of Women and Child Development

                                       Government of India/ National Programme Officer, 

                                       UNWOMEN South Asia Sub-Regional Office 

Duty Station            :     New Delhi, India 

Type of Contract    :     SSA 

No. of positions      :     One 

Duration                    :     Six Months Initially 

Background

The principle of gender equality is enshrined in the Indian Constitution in its Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties and Directive Principles. The Constitution not only grants equality to women, but also empowers the State to adopt measures of positive discrimination in favour of women.

The goal of the National Policy for the Empowerment of Women (2001) was to bring about the advancement, development and empowerment of women. Specifically, the objectives of this Policy include the following:

v  Creating an environment through positive economic and social policies for full development of women to enable them to realize their full potential

v  The de-jure and de-facto enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedom by women on equal basis with men in all spheres – political, economic, social, cultural and civil

v  Equal access to participation and decision making of women in social, political and economic life of the nation

v  Equal access to women to health care, quality education at all levels, career and vocational guidance, employment, equal remuneration, occupational health and safety, social security and public office etc.

v  Strengthening legal systems aimed at elimination of all forms of discrimination against women

v  Changing societal attitudes and community practices by active participation and involvement of both men and women.

v  Mainstreaming a gender perspective in the development process.

v  Elimination of discrimination and all forms of violence against women and the girl child; and

v  Building and strengthening partnerships with civil society, particularly women’s organizations.

India has ratified various international conventions and human rights instruments committing to secure equal rights of women. Key among them is the ratification of the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1993. The CEDAW Committee, in its Concluding Comments of 2007, called upon the State Party to develop, in consultation with women’s groups, a coordinated and comprehensive plan to combat all forms of violence against women taking a life cycle approach. It urged the State party to take steps in partnership with states and union territories to fully and consistently implement and enforce the Domestic Violence Act and to ensure

that all women victims of domestic violence, including scheduled caste scheduled tribe, backward class and minority women, are able to benefit from the legislative framework and support systems in place and that perpetrators are effectively prosecuted under the Penal Code and adequately punished. It recommended that public officials, especially law enforcement officials, the judiciary, health-care providers and social workers, are fully sensitized to all forms of violence against women, including domestic violence. It requested that adequate statistics on all forms of violence against women be collected in a consistent manner.  

In the Eleventh Plan, for the first time, women are recognized not just as equal citizens but as agents of economic and social growth. The approach to gender equity is based on the recognition that interventions in favour of women must be multi-pronged and they must: (i) provide women with basic entitlements, (ii) address the reality of globalization and its impact on women by prioritizing economic empowerment, (iii) ensure an environment free from all forms of violence against women (VAW)—physical, economic, social, psychological etc., (iv) ensure the participation and adequate representation of women at the highest policy levels, particularly in Parliament and State assemblies, and (v) strengthen existing institutional mechanisms and create new ones for gender main-streaming and effective policy implementation.[1] 

The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) vision statement for 2011-12 focuses on “Women living with dignity and contributing as equal partners towards the development of the country in an environment free from violence. And, well nurtured children with full opportunities for growth and development in an environment free from exploitation.” One of the specific priorities of the Ministry identified in the Results Framework Document (RFD) for the year 2011-12 is the review of existing laws on discrimination against women.  

Purpose 

In connection with the above UN Women will be placing a consultant at the Ministry of Women and Child Development to support  the Ministry in its work on policy issues and legislations

Activities and Deliverables

Working under the supervision of the Director, MWCD the consultant will undertake the following tasks: 

• Undertake a review of the National Policy for Empowerment of Women, 2001 and assist in developing an action plan for its implantation. With this in view, develop preliminary concept note and provide assistance in organizing stakeholder consultations.
• Assist in undertaking review of implementation of Violence against Women (VAW) legislations such as the Dowry Prohibition Act and the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act.
• Assist in undertaking comprehensive technical review of Violence against Women (VAW) legislations implemented by the Ministry:

-                      Review of Dowry Prohibition Act and assist in making necessary amendments

-                      Review of Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act and assist in making necessary amendments

-                      Review of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, and if necessary, assisting in making necessary amendments. 

• Assist in drafting new legislations to be implemented by the Ministry, such as on Sexual Harassment at Workplace.
• Assist in the formation of the proposed High Level Committee to study and report on the Status of Women in India since the last such study was undertaken in 1974.
• Provide technical gender inputs on behalf of the Ministry on references made by other Ministries/Departments on policies, programmes and legislations which are proposed, having a bearing on the empowerment of women.
• Develop and restructure schemes and programmes of the MWCD that provide institutional support to women in difficult circumstances, including women facing gender-based violence, as well as programmes strengthening implementation of existing laws on violence against women. This would include the Scheme for Financial Assistance & Support Services to victims of Rape and the proposed Scheme for strengthening implementation of PWDVA, 2005.
• Assist the Bureau in undertaking action on women related issues as per the Ministry’s Annual & Five Year Strategic Plan.
• Assist in smooth functioning of Division/Bureau.
• Any other work assigned from time to time.

Timeframe 

The Consultant will be initially hired for a period of 6 months starting 25 September 2011.  

Required Competencies and Skills 

1.     Postgraduate in law or related field preferably having worked closely with Government departments

2.     Minimum7 years of relevant experience

3.     Good knowledge of programming on gender and women’s rights

4.     Experience of drafting legal provisions.

5.     Should be prepared to travel to participate in consultations with various stakeholders.

6.     Should be well versed with the use of computers and its programmes/applications

7.     Strong analytical and writing skills in English;

8.     Ability to work independently and with minimal supervision. 

Monitoring of assignment 

The consultant will be supervised by the Director, MWCD and UN Women.  

Interested applicants should apply for the vacancy, using the “Personal History Form - P 11” and the latest CV.  

Application to this vacancy should be sent to jobs.india@unwomen.org     

Please insert SSA Announcement Number in the Subject of the E-mail.  Applications without the SSA Number or with the incorrect SSA Number will not be accepted. 

NOTE : Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.