Call for human rights, and international humanitarian law experts

Location: Remote work with possible travel to Ukraine and/or other European countries depending on assignment requirements. Assignment duration will vary.The roster will be reviewed at the close of 2026, with the possibility of its extension.

About RWI

The Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI) is an independent academic institution that combines multi-disciplinary human rights research with education, support and outreach to contribute to a wider understanding of, and respect for, human rights and international humanitarian law. Our impact extends across more than 40 countries, and we have offices in Lund (HQ), Addis Ababa, Bangkok, Harare, Jakarta, Kyiv, Nairobi, Phnom Penh, and Yerevan.

About the Call

RWI is seeking international consultants to join its roster of experts supporting Ukraine’s recovery efforts and EU accession process by strengthening the country’s human rights infrastructure and recovery at national and local levels.

The selected experts will primarily support RWI’s programme Human Rights Infrastructure for Ukraine for 2025-2027 (HRIU), funded by Swedish Development Cooperation (Sida). The programme aims to reinforce institutional implementation of human rights policies, strengthen academic and professional expertise, and empower local actors to advance access to justice and human rights protections.

Key partners include the Ministry of Justice, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, academic institutions, the Association of Legal Clinics of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Bar Association, and local authorities and civil society partners in targeted regions.

Role and Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities will be defined for each assignment. Indicative tasks include:

1) Support to the justice sector in Ukraine

• Assisting the Ministry of Justice and other state bodies in implementing the new National Human Rights Strategy till 2035 and the development and implementation of its Action Plan,  supporting the development of a  new the Penitentiary System Reform Strategy, implementation of the Rule of Law Roadmap as a part of the EU accession process, and  advancing other reforms relevant to the EU accession process of Ukraine.
• Strengthening the institutional capacity of key justice sector actors, including judiciary, prosecution police, and penitentiary and probation through trainings, consultations, peer learning, and knowledge‑sharing on international human rights standards, their implementation and the requirements of Chapter 23 of the EU negotiations framework.
• Providing strategic and technical advice on justice sector reform, human rights protection, application of international humanitarian law principles, anti‑corruption measures, and EU‑related strategies, action plans, roadmaps and legislation fostering the EU accession process.
• Supporting the EU compliance assessments, gap analyses, studies on EU and best practices of the European Court of Human Rights, analytical and legal opinions, legislative drafting and amendments in line with EU law and international human rights standards.

2) Support to the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (UPCHR)

• Supporting the integration of international human rights standards into the implementation of UPCHR’s mandate and its contributions to Ukraine’s EU accession process.
• Providing strategic and technical advice to strengthen UPCHR’s monitoring, reporting and complaint‑handling functions.
• Building the capacity of UPCHR staff, including at regional offices, in documentation, analysis, public reporting, and engagement with local authorities and civil society.

3) Support to academic partners (education, research, clinical legal education)

• Delivering and contributing to lectures, workshops, seminars and other academic events, participating in forums and conferences on the protection of human rights, EU law, and related topics.
• Reviewing and updating curricula and/or developing new to integrate international human rights law, international humanitarian law, EU law, and practice‑oriented teaching methodologies.
• Developing tailored teaching materials, case studies and research‑based learning tools adapted to Ukrainian academic contexts.
• Providing research mentoring and supporting evidence‑based academic contributions on human rights, , international humanitarian law, and EU integration in support of national reforms in Ukraine.
• Training faculty members and legal clinic supervisors in human rights‑based, experiential and clinical legal education methods.
• Enhancing the institutional capacity of RWI’s partners from civil society and local government.
• Other tasks as assigned in the framework of this call.

4) Support to local actors (municipalities, local state authorities, local civil society organizations)

• Assistance in increasing internal capacity of local authorities to comply with human rights standards in support of the EU accession process, including promoting and implementing fundamental rights and advancing human rights in practice at the local level.
• Support to strengthening capacity of local actors to identify and analyse justice issues related to Chapter 23 through providing technical expertise on the EU accession process and sharing experience on reforms necessary to implement Chapter 23 measures at the local level.
• Support to increased interaction between local and national levels on human rights and fundamental rights.

Expert Profile

• Solid knowledge of human rights, and/or international humanitarian law;
• At least 10 years of relevant experience, preferably in an EU member state, Ukraine or other EU candidate‑country context.
• Strong knowledge of international and European human rights law, international humanitarian law standards and mechanisms is essential.
• Relevant university degree in human rights, law, international relations, European studies, or a related field.
• Experience with EU integration processes is an asset.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Strong understanding of international cooperation, and demonstrated ability to work collaboratively.
• Fluency in English, with excellent writing skills, is required.
• Knowledge of Ukrainian is an advantage.

We value flexibility, proactivity, strong organisational skills, cultural sensitivity, and a commitment to continuous learning and knowledge‑sharing. Experts should be able to take initiative, manage competing priorities, and be available for assignments at short notice.

Remuneration and Assignment Terms

Fees will be determined individually for each assignment based on its scope, complexity, operating environment, and the expertise required.

Application Process

Apply with your CV, cover letter and by answering the selection questions no later than 1 March.

In the cover letter, please outline your relevant experience, specifically addressing one or more of the following areas:

1. Support to the justice sector in Ukraine
2. Support to Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights
3. Support to academic partners (education, research, clinical legal education)
4. Support to local actors (municipalities, local state authorities, local civil society organisations)

Please note that applications sent by email will not be registered. We will review applications as soon as they are received. Interested applicants are therefore encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible.

Every application is reviewed with care. Our recruitment team takes the time to assess each candidate thoughtfully and thoroughly. Once your application is submitted, you will receive system-generated confirmations and updates. These are triggered by our recruitment team to keep you informed throughout the process. If we decide not to invite you for an interview, we unfortunately won’t be able to provide individual feedback. While we appreciate the effort behind every application, the volume of candidates makes personalised responses impossible.

For any questions about the position, please contact Zuzana Zalanova at zuzana.zalanova@rwi.lu.se

We look forward to receiving your application!

The Raoul Wallenberg Institute promotes diversity and welcomes applications from all qualified persons, regardless of race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, age, disability, or other protected status under the law.

Please note that RWI has pre‑selected relevant advertising and recruitment channels for this call. We therefore kindly but firmly decline contact from media sales representatives, recruitment platforms, or similar service providers.