Location: Mae Sot, Tak
Application Deadline: 12 March 2017
Background/IRC Summary:
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is at work in over 40 countries and 26 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. The IRC has been operating in Thailand since 1975 and currently provides assistance to displaced persons in Tak, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi and Mae Hong Son provinces.
Promoting Sustainable Protection Measures for Vulnerable Displaced People across the Thailand-Myanmar Border project promotes the rule of law / legal principles and access to justice for Burmese Displaced People in Thailand. Established in July in 2016 in coordination with, and building on the Legal Assistance Center and the Project for Local Empowerment (PLE), this protection project will serve displaced people both in the camps and along the Thai-Myanmar Borders, and focuses on maintaining and expanding sustainable and equal access to justice as well as strengthening cross-border protection coordination to ensure safety of the most vulnerable displaced people through different activities.
Job Overview/Summary:
The Senior Legal Advisory Officer provides legal assistance on access to Thai Justice by serving as a liaison and developing linkages between community leaders, Community Legal Volunteers (CLV), the Ministry of Interior (MOI) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and civil societies outside the refugee camps. The Senior Legal Advisory Officer also act as a focal person for protection and access to justice for serious protection cases and referrals to the Thai Justice System. He/she mentors and coaches legal camp-based assistants (CBA) and Community Legal Volunteers on their legal intake, basic legal counseling, guidance to refugee clients and referral system as well as support camp authorities and community-based organizations (CBO) on matters relating to Thai laws, policies and regulations and camp dispute resolutions. The Senior Legal Advisory Officer also provides support and/or training on Thai laws to community legal volunteers as necessary.
Major Responsibilities:
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1. Assist the Deputy for Community and Government Liaison in overseeing the operation and provision of legal assistance services for displaced people.
2. Mentor, coach and provide technical support to Community Legal Volunteers, legal CBAs, CBOs, and community leaders on community dispute resolution and access to the Thai justice system for displaced people.
3. Cultivate linkages between communities, UNHCR, MOI and civil societies outside the refugee camps for access to justice services particularly for serious protection cases to and referrals to the Thai Justice System.
4. Coordinate with IRC’s Women’s Protection and Empowerment program on access to justice and processing and referral of gender-based violence cases to the Thai justice system.
5. Provide technical support and coaching to displaced person communities on referrals of legal and human rights violation cases and work with appropriate organizations for further legal and technical assistance.
6. Work closely with the Rule of Law staff and the Durable Solutions staff to identify areas of development and improvement in terms of knowledge and skills and provide support on capacity building including training, workshop, group discussion, etc. to Community Legal Volunteers, legal CBAs, CBOs, and community leaders so that they can provide effective legal assistance and effectively manage and handle community dispute resolutions in accordance with Thai law and international standards.
7. Coordinate closely with the Project for Local Empowerment (PLE) protection and IRC’s Women Protection and Empowerment (WPE) program to provide technical support and capacity building on legal case management and provide knowledge and skills training on the principles of law, legal knowledge and basic human rights to the refugee communities and their partners.
8. Liaise regularly with Community Legal Volunteers, legal CBAs, CBOs, including with local authorities, UN agencies, relevant NGOs/civil society organizations, civil societies, universities and other relevant organizations/persons concerning displaced person legal and human rights issues.
9. Prepare monthly activity plans and reports by working closely with the Deputy for Community and Government Liaison and other program staff to ensure close integration of among project activities.
10. Represent IRC officially at designated meetings, conferences and workshops.
11. Perform other duties as requested by the supervisor/ senior management.
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Job Requirement:
Education: university degree in law
Work Experience: knowledge of Thai law and judicial system and at least four (4) years of direct experience in legal assistance in displaced people context
Demonstrated Skills and Abilities:
- Experience in conducting legal and human rights training
- Excellent communication , legal counseling and legal case management knowledge and skills
- Ability to multi-tasks and deal with sensitive issues confidentially
- Ability to deal with traumatized people in an effective and compassionate way
- Knowledge of displaced persons both in and outside refugee camp situations
Language Skills: Fluency in Thai and English. Working knowledge of Burmese and/or Karen is a plus
Working Environment: The position will be based in the IRC office in Mae Sot, with extensive travel to the refugee camps and along the Thai-Myanmar border.
How to apply: Application letter and most recent CV in English stating qualifications and experience should be submitted to the IRC Human Resources Department at Thailand.HR@rescue.org
All applications will be treated confidentially and not returned. The IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, national origin, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age, marital status or physical or mental disability. The IRC is an equal opportunity employer.
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