Country: Montenegro
Closing date: 25 Oct 2015
UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN’S FUND
REQUIRES
National/International Consultant
for the provision of technical expertise in developing contextual part of mobile and computer application for combating online child sexual exploitation
Minimum Requirements:
- A degree in law or other social science;
- At least 5 years of relevant professional experience;
- Understanding of issues related to children and online child sexual exploitation/abuse issues
- Knowledge of the CRC, CEDAW, Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention), Council of Europe Convention on the protection of children against sexual exploitation and other related UN and CoE instruments;
- Excellent analytical and writing skills;
- Previous work experience with UN will be considered as an advantage;
- Fluency in English (both spoken and written);
- Strong communication skills;
- Computer literacy.
Terms of Reference
National/International Consultant for the provision of technical expertise in developing contextual part of mobile and computer application for combating online child sexual exploitation
1.Background and Context
Sexual violence against children is a gross violation of children’s rights and yet global reality across all countries and social groups. It can take the form of sexual abuse, harassment, rape or sexual exploitation in prostitution or pornography. It can happen in homes, institutions, schools, workplaces, in travel and tourism facilities, within communities - both in development and emergency contexts. Increasingly, the internet and mobile phones additionally expose children to risk of sexual violence.
The 2014 UNICEF study, Hidden in Plain Sight, estimates that around 120 million girls under the age of 20 (about 1 in 10) have been subjected to forced sexual intercourse or other forced sexual acts at some point of their lives. Millions of more children are likely exploited in prostitution or pornography each year around the world, most of the times lured or forced into these situations through false promises and limited knowledge about the risks. Yet the true magnitude of sexual violence is hidden because of its sensitive and illegal nature. Most children and families do not report cases of abuse and exploitation because of stigma, fear, and lack of reporting mechanisms or trust in the authorities. Social tolerance and lack of awareness also contribute to under-reporting.
In Montenegro, KAP survey revealed, every 10 citizen knows someone who was a victim of sexual abuse during childhood. Yet, only 30% admits that the problem of sexual violence against children exists in the country. This illustrates higher level of social tolerance but also stigma associated with this phenomena that prevents citizen to talk and admit that the problem exists.
According to the Survey of the Ombudsperson Office of Montenegro: “Child Online Sexual Abuse”, 2013, Montenegros institutions registered only 4 cases of child online sexual abuse. In the same survey, every fourth child said she/he had received online messages with grooming or sexting connotation, which data corresponds with findings of the NGO sector. This clearly indicates that Montenegro still does not have in place efficient mechanisms for reporting, revealing, protection, prosecution, neither efficient professional support services for victims.
As part of UNICEF’s commitment to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography and the Rio de Janeiro Declaration and Call for Action to Prevent and Stop Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents.pdf), UNICEF works to prevent and respond to sexual violence by engaging different government sectors - justice, social welfare, education and health - as well as legislators, civil society, community leaders, religious groups, the private sector, media, families and children themselves. UNICEF supports governments in strengthening child protection systems at national and local levels– including laws, policies, regulations and the provision of comprehensive services to child victims and works with communities and the general public to raise awareness about the problem and address attitudes, norms and practices that are harmful to children.[1]
The main international existing instrument in the field of protection of children’s rights, including against sexual exploitation, is the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (hereafter CRC, United Nations, 1989). It protects children from all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse, abduction, sale and trafficking, any other form of exploitation and from cruel or inhuman treatment. As to the sexual exploitation of children, Optional Protocol to the CRC on the Sale of Children, Child Pornography and Child Prostitution (United Nations, 2000) is specifically addressing the issue. Compliance with the CRC and its Protocols is monitored by the Committee on the Rights of the Child, which has come to the conclusion that children in Europe are not sufficiently protected against sexual exploitation and abuse. In particular the Committee underlines the lack of exhaustive national criminal legislation in this field in the State Parties, especially as concerns trafficking of children, “sex tourism” and child pornography, the lack of a clearly defined minimum age for consenting sexual relations and lack of protection for children against abuse on the Internet.
Based on the global need for joint and organized fight against this phenomenon and grounded in before mentioned international instruments, We PROTECT Children Online Global Summit was held by the UK Government in London on the 10-11 December 2014 with the aim to strengthen global efforts to combat online child sexual exploitation. It brought together representatives from more than 50 countries, leading technology companies, International and National NGOs, Interpol, Europol, UNICEF, UNODC and the Special Rapporteur on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography.
Participating countries signed up to a Statement of Action committing to take global action to identify and protect victims; remove child sexual abuse material from the Internet; strengthen cooperation across the world to track down perpetrators; and build global capacity to tackle the sexual exploitation of children online.
In addition, on December 5th 2012, Montenegro jointly with additional 48 countries, participated in the Initial Conference for establishment of Global Alliance against Child Sexual Abuse Online, which is the joint initiative of the European Union and United States of America. Following objectives were set:Eliminate legal gaps and obstacles; Improve INTERPOLs database with the intention to facilitate cross border police investigations; Strengthen cooperation with civil sector; Strengthen cooperation with internet providers; Integration of legal provisions which will prevent perpetrators of the criminal act of child abuse from further work with children; Provision of efficient support to victims; Raise awareness of children, parents and citizens in general, and in particular through the campaigns in schools.
In light of the above, UNICEF Office in Montenegro started with implementation of a new initiative aiming to support Government to prevent and protect children from online child sexual exploitation and abuse. One of the proposed actions of the initiative is providing information and raising awareness campaign aiming to enable children and youth (from 9 to 18 years old)) to have a channel to access information about different forms of child online exploitation and abuse. This will be provided through development of mobile phone and computer application that will summarise forms of child online abuse, the way how children protect themselves and how to report the crime. The application will also include guidance on signs and symptoms of online child sexual abuse and what to do if they suspect online abuse. Since the content of the mobile phone and computer application will be made both for children and youth that from 9 to 18 years old it is necessary to adapt contextual part to a child friendly language having in mind their emotional, psychological and intellectual development.
2.Purpose and Objective
The purpose of this assignment is to strengthen institutional capacities to effectively protect children from online sexual exploitation and abuse and to raise awareness on combating online child sexual exploitation and abuse in order to enable children to enjoy the benefits of the internet free from danger.
The objective of this assignment is to provide technical assistance to respective state institutions in enabling children and youth (from 9 to 18 years old) to have a channel to access information about different forms of child online exploitation and abuse, how to protect themselves, and how to report the crime to appropriate state institutions. This will be done through developing application for mobile phone and computers that will have several ‘core’ elements but not necessarily be confined to:
- Information on different forms of online child sexual exploitation and abuse including child pornography, grooming on sex, cyberbullying and sexting to be in line with current criminal legislation;
- How to report the crime to appropriate state institutions;
- Guidelines for children and youth how to stay safe online;
- Guidelines for children how to prevent online risks and harms.
3.Methodology and Technical Approach
The methodology will use desk review, written inputs, active participation in experts working group sessions, active participation in children working sessions, consultations with the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Information Society and other relevant institutions and presentation of the results and findings.
The Consultant will work in the field and from home. The Consultant is expected to work in a team with other consultants engaged in the process of development of application, primarily with a consultant who will adapt contextual part of the application to a child friendly language and with application designer.
4. Activities and Tasks
The activities of the assignment will be conducted in close cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Labour and Welfare and UNICEF’s Child Protection Team. The Consultant is expected to:
- Reviewing, within the preparatory phase set of international standards: UNCRC and Optional Protocols (III), UNCEDAW, Concluding Observations for Montenegro issued by the Committee on the Rights of the Child, 2010, Concluding Observations for Montenegro issued for the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), 2011, Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention), UN Secretary Generals Study on Violence against Children (2006); UNICEF Study Hidden in a Plain Sight (2014), The CoE Convention on Cybercrime, Council of Europe Convention on the protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, the Directive 2011/93/EU of the European Parliament on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child pornography and other related UN, CoE and EU instruments;
· Reviewing within the preparatory phase set of national laws and documents: Criminal Code, Criminal Procedure Code;
- Communicate with and participate in the Working group sessions and Children and Youth group sessions on discussing of the contextual part for mobile and computer application on child online exploitation as well as communicate with other experts engaged in the process of development of application, (3 days), by 10 November 2015;
- Development and submission of the draft solution of the contextual part for mobile and computer application (10 days), by 20 November;
- Based on received inputs, comments and suggestions, development and submission of the final solution for contextual part of application to UNICEF and the Working group and other respective counterparts (5 days), by 10 December 2015;
- Presentation of final solution for contextual part of application to UNICEF and the Working group and other respective counterparts (1 day), by 15 December 2015.
- Final Consultancy Report (1 day), by end of December 2015.
4.Key Deliverables and Timeframe
The Consultants will be engaged for the total period of 20 days.
The Consultant is expected to produce the following key deliverables:
a)Development and submission of the draft solution of the contextual part for mobile and computer application**;**
b) Based on received inputs, comments and suggestions, development and submission of the final solution for contextual part of application to UNICEF and the Working group and other respective counterparts;
c) Presentation of final solution for contextual part of application to UNICEF and the Working group and other respective counterparts**;**
d) Final Consultancy Report.
5.Minimum requirements
- A degree in law or other social science;
- At least 5 years of relevant professional experience;
- Understanding of issues related to children and online child sexual exploitation/abuse issues
- Knowledge of the CRC, CEDAW, Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention), Council of Europe Convention on the protection of children against sexual exploitation and other related UN and CoE instruments;
- Excellent analytical and writing skills;
- Previous work experience with UN will be considered as an advantage;
- Fluency in English (both spoken and written);
- Strong communication skills;
· Computer literacy.
6.Management and Organisation
Management: The Consultant will be supervised by the UNICEF Child Protection Officer. The relevant national stakeholders will be consulted on a regular basis for the feedback regarding the consultant’s work performance.
Organization: National/International Consultant/s will be required for this consultancy. The consultant will be paid equivalent to NO-C/P3 level based on Fee range for national/international consultants CF/AI/2008-003. If more than one consultant is engaged for the assignment, the fee for each consultant will be negotiated depending on their qualifications, the scope of work required from each consultant and the duration of their engagement.
The candidates are requested to submit their financial offer consisting of fee for the services to be provided, travel and subsistence costs, as/ if applicable.
The consultant’s fee may be reduced if the assignments/deliverables are not fulfilled to the required standard. In a case of serious dissatisfaction with the consultant’s performance the contract may be terminated in line with UNICEF procedure in such matters and as spelled out in SSA.
Schedule: This assignment will commence on 1 November 2015.
[1]http://www.unicef.org/protection/57929_58006.html, (07/07/2015).
How to apply:
Terms of Reference for the position and P11 form can be found on the website**www.unicef.org/montenegro****or picked up at UNICEF Montenegro office.**
If you are a dynamic person who would like to contribute to delivering of long-lasting, positive changes for Montenegro’s children,**please apply with a CV, P11 form, financial offer** and cover letter by email, mail or fax quoting the position “Consultancy on developing contextual part of mobile and computer application for combating online child sexual exploitation” to the following address:
UNICEF, UN Eco House, Stanka Dragojevica bb, 81 000 Podgorica
Fax: +382 20 447 400
Email: podgorica@unicef.org
Closing date for applications is 25 October, 2015 by cob (16.30h).
Only short listed candidates will be contacted for interview.
U N I C E F I S A S M O K E F R E E E N V I R O N M E N T