Legal Officer

**Deadline is 21 June 2025**

Context

UNDP works to improve the lives of vulnerable communities, with the overarching objective of preventing loss of development gains, promoting human rights, and finding sustainable pathways to development. UNDP projects under the democratic governance portfolio aims to strengthen state institutions, support democratic development and the rule of law, ensure crisis prevention, support policy development, and integrate gender equality into all areas of work. UNDP works to support the human rights ecosystem by strengthening human rights institutions to promote and protect human rights for all.

This UNV assignment is part of UNDP Pakistan's Decentralization, Human Rights and Local Governance (DHL) project. The DHL project is a multi-sector project aimed at strengthening rights-based development, community stabilization, gender equality, and social inclusion across all regions and provinces of Pakistan. The core objective of the project is to ensure inclusive and equitable service delivery by providing technical assistance and capacity development support to relevant federal ministries, provincial line departments, statutory bodies, civil society, and private sector organizations. A key aim is to support the creation of an enabling environment for accelerated access to rights, people-centered justice, and people-centered security. The project focuses on institution building while connecting with vulnerable and at-risk communities to build trust between rights holders and duty bearers for inclusive, expeditious, and transparent access to rights and services.

Under its Business & Human Rights programme, UNDP-DHL has since 2018 supported the advancement of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) in Pakistan, with the aim of ensuring human rights and gender equality across all forms of business activity. This includes technical assistance to the Government of Pakistan at federal and provincial levels for the development and implementation of the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAP-BHR). UNDP-DHL also engages government entities, regulators, and the private sector for the uptake of human rights due diligence (HRDD) as a key best practice to respect human rights across Pakistani value chains. Finally, the project supports NHRIs, civil society, workers, and human rights defenders to increase access to remedy for rights-holders and promote accountability when business activity leads to human rights violations.

UNDP-DHL supports the National Commission on Human Rights (NCHR) to build its technical capacity for the fulfilment of its mandate as an autonomous national human rights institution and watchdog body to support the promotion of human rights across Pakistan including in the context of business activity. UNDP-DHL's engagement with NCHR supports the variety of its functions, including judicial and investigative functions, knowledge production, awareness and advocacy, legal monitoring, and policymaking.

The incumbent UNV will be stationed at the NCHR Office in Islamabad and will be responsible for assisting the Legal Advisor of the NCHR in performing various tasks related to legal research, monitoring, advocacy and legal representation to promote human, labour, and environmental rights across Pakistan including in business activity.

Task description

• Support the NCHR in legal research and analysis on the state of human rights, including in business activity, across Pakistan

• Lead comprehensive legal research on national and provincial legislation, statutes, regulations, policies, etc. relevant to human rights and responsible business practices in Pakistan

• Interpret, review, and provide recommendations for strengthening compliance of stakeholders, including private sector, with national laws, international human rights

• Contribute to the development of policies, guidelines, and legislative proposals to strengthen the business & human rights framework in Pakistan.

• Support NCHR with development of legal strategies to address systemic human rights violations through judicial and quasi-judicial mechanisms

• Monitor judicial decisions affecting human rights, developing strategic responses and intervention strategies

• Coordinate with the Business and Human Rights (BHR) focal points stationed at the Ministry of Human Rights and other relevant institutions to support the NCHR in monitoring implementation of the National Action Plan on BHR (NAP-BHR).

• Contribute to the drafting of monitoring reports and submissions.

• Liaise with relevant authorities, including law enforcement agencies, judiciary, and government departments, on cases handled by the NCHR.

• Support coordination with other human rights institutions in Pakistan for a coordinated and coherent approach

• Support judicial & non-judicial legal monitoring, investigative, and redressal functions of NCHR for human rights cases including in business context

• Represent NCHR before courts and tribunals in strategic litigation, suo moto proceedings, investigations, alternate dispute resolution and supervise preparation of legal notices, responses, and Commission orders

• Develop and draft legal documents including legal memoranda, legal briefs, and letters on behalf of NCHR

• Review and proofread legal documents for accuracy, clarity, and compliance with legal standards

• Support the NCHR in developing reports and responses for NCHR's submission to international treaty bodies

• Conduct in-depth legal research on emerging human rights and responsible business practices issues and develop policy recommendations.

• Prepare amicus curiae briefs and submissions for relevant court proceedings, where necessary.

• Assist in managing legal department schedules, meetings, and appointments.

• Maintain confidential records and ensure compliance with privacy and confidentiality standards.

• Facilitate awareness and capacity building on human rights including responsible business practicces

• Support the development of training modules and capacity-building workshops for NCHR staff and external stakeholders on business & human rights and role of NCHR in its promotion

• Contribute to public awareness campaigns on business & human rights, and various judicial and non-judicial remedies available for rights violations caused by business activity

• Develop periodic thematic briefs on business & human rights issues in Pakistan

• Coordinate with the NHRIs and BHR Focal Points at UNDP under the Huqooq-e-Pakistan II Programme to support UNDP and NCHR's joint initiatives.

• Perform any other tasks as assigned by the Chairperson NCHR or the Legal Advisor NCHR.

Relevant experience

2 years

Languages

English, Level: Working knowledge, Required

Required education level

Bachelor degree or equivalent in Law (LLB or JD)

Skills and experience

• National and/or international level as a lawyer, in legal research, litigation, or legal advocacy

• Experience in business & human rights litigation is an advantage.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills; and the ability to convey complex issues in a clear and engaging manner

• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners