Institute for War & Peace Reporting is seeking for Regional Trainer for delivering training on the development of an Alternative Report on CEDAW Implementation for the representatives of NGOs in Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.
Background:
Adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, CEDAW is considered to be the most authoritative UN human rights tool in protecting women from discrimination being the first international treaty to comprehensively address fundamental rights for women in politics, health care, education, economics, employment, law, property, and marriage and family relations.
Under Article 18 of CEDAW, countries are required to report to the CEDAW Monitoring Committee. Most importantly, the Committee has developed procedures to give access to local and international NGOs who can submit “shadow” or alternative reports to the Committee. NGOs of the country reporting to CEDAW are allowed to make brief oral presentations at each session. The CEDAW Committee both in the dialogue with the government on its report, and its Concluding Comments, emphasizes the importance of government/civil society interaction in working towards CEDAW implementation.
The Committee specifically urges the government to circulate its Concluding Comments within the countries. This procedure has encouraged a non-adversarial approach to monitoring progress on women’s situation within the country, with the participation of civil society and NGOs. The level of scrutiny and publicity of CEDAW progress both within and outside the country has contributed to better reports from governments, and better performance in achieving some of the important targets set by the CEDAW Committee in its Concluding Comments.
According to the recommendations of the Committee, Tajikistan must provide regular alternative report on the implementation of the Convention in October 2015 and Kazakhstan must submit such report in 2016.
As a contribution to strengthening country capacities to monitor CEDAW implementation as a key driving force to achieve gender equality in line with national priorities is a pillar of UN Women and Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) support. One of such activities is a training on CEDAW implementation monitoring and development of an Alternative reports in each country. The necessity of training is based on the needs articulated by NGO representatives at different meetings explained by the appearance of new proactive civil sector representatives able to take leadership in the given process.
The training is envisaged to engage participants in practical tasks and discussions to determine the role of NGOs in CEDAW implementation and monitoring as well as in the preparation of alternative reports which have become an opportunity for the civil society to raise sensitive issues within a clear procedural framework and to get coverage for important issues which might not come out so strongly in official submissions, as well as forming a basis for further discussions with the state. It is expected that the discussions within the training will allow establishing network and strong partnership in united address to the issue.
For this purpose UN Women and IWPR plan to sub contract a regional trainer to achieve the deliverables prescribed below.
- Development of 2-day training (agenda and handouts) on CEDAW Implementation for HIV-serviced NGO;
- 2-day training for NGO representatives on monitoring CEDAW implementation and development of an alternative report;
- Prepare the final report, describing the results achieved through training and recommendations on the development of an alternative report for trainees.
- University degree in a humanities social sciences, preferably with focus on gender and human rights;
- At least 5 years of professional experience in delivering training on for representatives of civil society organisations, government and international organisations in Central Asia;
- Knowledge and understanding of CEDAW implementation issues;
- Experience of working with UNIFEM materials on CEDAW and other training and information materials on respective issues, developed for the Central Asia region;
- At least 5 years of experience in curriculum design and developing training modules on gender issues;
- Fluent Russian language (essential);
- Good communication skills, an ability to maintain audience engagement, creative approach to teaching.
The total amount of working days will be 4 within the period from September 05-25, 2015.
In addition, IWPR will cover the costs of the trainer’s travel to the country and DSA while in Kazakhstan.
Applicants are kindly requested to submit 1) cover letter indicating the amount of expected honoraria; 2) CV, 3) contact details of 2 persons who would be able to recommend the candidate by September 05, 2015 to Alexandra Kazakova via e-mail alexandra@iwpr.net.
Only short listed candidates will be contacted after the deadline with respective guidelines.