Environmental Human Rights Defenders Consultant

Remote
Contracted
Mid Level
 


Background
Across Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA), environmental human rights defenders (EHRDs) face significant repression as they work to protect the environment, advocate for sustainable development, and address climate change’s adverse effects on marginalized communities. Their activism often intersects with governance issues, human rights, and political dissent, making them targets in authoritarian contexts with limited civil society space. Throughout the region, environmental rights activists face repression including criminal prosecution, administrative measures, arbitrary detention, threats of violence, etc.

The ABA Center for Human Rights’ (the Center) Justice Defenders Program aims to address this gap by supporting EHRDs in SWANA. Leveraging its partnerships with local organizations, legal experts, and international human rights mechanisms, the CHR seeks a contracting organization to document legal threats, monitor cases, and develop advocacy strategies to protect EHRDs.

The Center seeks a consultant to develop a comprehensive report analyzing the legal, political, and human rights challenges faced by EHRDs in the SWANA region, with a focus on actionable strategies for advocacy and support. Proposals must include a methodology that identifies how support will be provided to environmental rights defenders at risk in SWANA to end, mitigate, or prevent reprisals against them for their advocacy.

This is an approximately six-month consultancy (January 2025 to June 2025). The selected organization will select cases, conduct research, and produce a report on various forms of state retaliation against environmental rights defenders in one or multiple countries in the SWANA region. The organization will also identify potential advocacy routes to engage domestic and international actors.

Responsibilities
  • Conduct Research:
    • Analyze the unique risks faced by EHRDs in SWANA.
    • Document case studies from across the SWANA region.
    • Review national legal frameworks and their implications for environmental activism.
    • Examine international mechanisms’ engagement with EHRDs in the region.
  • Engage Stakeholders:
    • Collaborate with ABA CHR partners, including local civil society organizations and legal experts in the SWANA region.
    • Incorporate perspectives from affected communities and international bodies addressing environmental and human rights issues.
  • Produce Reports and/or Papers
    • Prepare a detailed report addressing the legal and political risks faced by EHRDs in SWANA, the intersection of environmental activism and human rights, and the gaps in current advocacy efforts and recommendations for domestic and international engagement.
    • Include actionable strategies for supporting EHRDs, with emphasis on legal protections, advocacy, and reforms.
    • In coordination with the Center, prepare a distribution strategy for each report and conduct follow up advocacy for these reports with specific next steps that could include but are not limited to:
      • Advocacy activities targeting specific bodies, e.g. EU bodies, OSCE departments, UN bodies (UN Special Rapporteurs)
      • Distributing the report(s) to engender dialogues with the relevant regional or international bodies and/or organizations working on similar issues/matters
      • Organizing public events presenting the findings in the reports that the Center publishes
      • Working to ensure media coverage/buy-in of the published report(s) via blogs, social media, articles, and other relevant activities
Qualifications
  • Based in or having a substantial network in at least one Southwest Asia & North Africa (SWANA) country.
  • Demonstrated experience supporting human rights defenders (HRDs) generally and environmental rights defenders more specifically related to the rights to freedom of expression, association, and assembly.
  • Proven experience conducting legal and human rights analysis.
  • Strong research and writing skills, with a history of producing high-quality reports.
  • Ability to independently draft a report according to ABA standards.
  • Knowledge of international human rights mechanisms and advocacy strategies.
  • Ability to communicate in Arabic is preferred.
How to Apply
Please send the following documents in a single PDF to [email protected] and CC [email protected] by December 6, 2024 at 5pm EST.
  • Statement of interest detailing your experience working on related projects, where you are based, and your availability through June 2025. (Maximum 1 page).
  • Resume/CV or relevant one-pager.
  • Writing Sample: Example of a previous report or publication related to human rights or environmental issues.
  • Proposal on approaches and methodologies for undertaking the above outlined responsibilities. The approach adopted to conduct research and draft the report should be included in addition to a timeline for deliverables.
  • Cost estimate (per deliverable or per hour) for each of the responsibilities listed above. A detailed cost breakdown, including professional fees and any anticipated expenses.
This initiative offers an opportunity to make a tangible impact on the protection and empowerment of EHRDs in the SWANA region while advancing global climate justice and human rights goals.
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