Under the guidance of the Chief, Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Section (HTMSS), and Chief, Thematic Support Section, Corruption and Economic Crime Branch and the direct supervision of the Team Leader of HTMSS Knowledge and Innovation Team and CEB TSS Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer, in coordination with the designated staff, the consultant will perform the following specific tasks:
A) Prepare an outline of the paper and methodology for the research;
B) Conduct consultations as well as a desk review of existing materials, including exploring and analyzing case law and existing initiatives concerning corruption and trafficking in persons;
C) On the basis of the research and input by UNODC, draft a paper, for further consultation, revision and eventual launch at the UNCAC Conference of the States Parties in December 2023 that explores the linkages of corruption and trafficking in persons and presents existing good practices as well as potential recommendations for States parties.
Home-based (travel might be required)
12 June – 29 December 2023
UNODC is the guardian of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), as well as the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and its supplementing Protocols to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children (Trafficking in Persons Protocol), and against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air (Smuggling of Migrants Protocol). UNODC supports States parties in their efforts to effectively implement UNCAC, UNTOC and its Protocols. In particular, UNODC supports States parties to effectively prevent and combat corruption as well as to better prevent, investigate and prosecute trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, and to protect the rights of victims of trafficking and smuggled migrants.
Concerning trafficking in persons, the 2022 UNODC global report on the issue highlights several alarming trends, including a decline in the number of victims of trafficking detected globally. It also points out that larger, more structured criminal organizations manage to traffic more people, in more violent ways and for longer periods of time. The report recognizes that there is a link between trafficking in persons and corruption and suggests, among other things, that states should fully comply with their international treaty obligations, including measures to address corruption. In fact, corruption fosters human trafficking and impedes an effective criminal justice response. Entry points for corruption exist all along the trafficking chain and in numerous sectors and institutions, be it immigration, police, the judiciary or services for victims. For example, traffickers can recruit, transport and exploit their victims with the help of corrupt public officials. Protecting victims of trafficking can be hindered by corrupt officials. Corrupt criminal justice officials can be a cause of the failure to investigate, prosecute and adjudicate trafficking. This suggests that measures against human trafficking are more effective if the underlying corruption offences are also addressed. Tackling one of the key facilitators of the crime and a major impediment to an effective criminal justice response would provide a pathway for innovative approaches to preventing and combating trafficking. Currently, however, there is limited knowledge about the linkages and entry points for corruption, which results in siloed approaches and inadequate measures.
- An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in criminology, law, social sciences or related field is required. A first level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
- A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in the field of criminal justice, law, human rights or related field is required;
- Experience in conducting legal research and drafting, reviewing, and editing of technical/academic studies such as background papers, policy studies or academic publications is required;
- Professional experience with criminal justice practitioners is desirable.
- Professional experience in anti-trafficking in persons and/or anti-corruption is desirable.
- Experience within the United Nations system or similar international organizations is desirable.
• English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English (i.e., oral and written proficiency and excellent drafting skills) is required. Knowledge of other official UN languages is an advantage.
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.