UN Women National Legal Consultant to Review and Align Armenian Legislation with ILO Convention No. (Local Post for Nationals of Armenia)) 3 views

Background:

As the lead UN entity on gender equality and secretariat of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, we shift laws, institutions, social behaviours and services to close the gender gap and build an equal world for all women and girls. Our partnerships with governments, women’s movements and the private sector coupled with our coordination of the broader United Nations translate progress into lasting changes. We make strides forward for women and girls in four areas: leadership, economic empowerment, freedom from violence, and women, peace and security as well as humanitarian action. UN Women keeps the rights of women and girls at the centre of global progress – always, everywhere. Because gender equality is not just what we do. It is who we are.

UN Women defines economic empowerment as a transformative, collective process through which economic systems become just, equitable and prosperous, and through which all women enjoy their economic and social rights, exercise agency and power in ways that challenge inequalities and level the playing field and gain equal rights and access to ownership of and control over resources, assets, income, time and their own lives. The key elements of economic empowerment are equal rights and access to ownership and control over resources; agency, power and autonomy; and policies, institutions and norms. Violence and harassment in the world of work constitute serious violations of human rights and significant barriers to gender equality, women’s economic empowerment, and decent work. Women and girls are disproportionately affected by violence and harassment, particularly in employment contexts characterized by power imbalances, informality, job insecurity, and limited access to protection and justice. Addressing these challenges requires comprehensive, gender-responsive legal frameworks aligned with international labour and human rights standards.

In June 2019, the International Labour Organization (ILO) adopted Convention No. 190 on Violence and Harassment in the World of Work. Convention No. 190 is the first international treaty to recognize the right of everyone to a world of work free from violence and harassment, including gender-based violence and harassment. It calls on States to adopt inclusive, integrated, and gender-responsive approaches to prevent and eliminate violence and harassment in the world of work through legislation, policies, enforcement mechanisms, remedies, and prevention measures.

The Republic of Armenia ratified ILO Convention No. 190 in September 2025, demonstrating a strong commitment to advancing decent work, gender equality, and the protection of workers from violence and harassment. Ratification of the Convention entails an obligation to review, revise, and, where necessary, develop national legislation, regulations, and policies to ensure full compliance with the Convention’s provisions. This includes ensuring that Armenian labour, criminal, administrative, and related legislation adequately defines, prohibits, and addresses violence and harassment in the world of work, provides effective remedies and protections for victims, and establishes clear responsibilities for employers, public authorities, and other duty bearers.

While Armenia has existing legal provisions related to labour rights, non-discrimination, and violence prevention, gaps and inconsistencies may remain in relation to the comprehensive and gender-responsive standards set out in Convention No. 190. A systematic legal review is therefore required to assess the extent to which national legislation aligns with the Convention and to identify areas requiring amendment, harmonization, or the development of new legal norms. Such a review should also take into account international good practices, Armenia’s broader international human rights obligations, and the national socio-economic and institutional context.

With support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and Austrian Development Agency (ADA), UN Women is implementing Women’s Economic Empowerment in the South Caucasus (WEESC) Phase III project, to advance gender equality through policy, institutional, and grassroots interventions. To engagement of this consultancy is supported under Outcome 3 of the WEESC Phase III project, which focuses on creating an enabling environment for women’s economic empowerment through improved laws, policies, and institutional practices. 

In this context, UN Women, in close coordination with relevant national stakeholders, seeks to engage a national legal consultant to conduct a comprehensive review of Armenian legislation and propose concrete legal recommendations to ensure alignment with ILO Convention No. 190. The consultant will contribute to providing a comprehensive legal review of Armenia’s framework on violence and harassment in the world of work. It will identify gaps and propose actionable, gender-responsive and survivor-centred legal recommendation to strengthen national legislation and policies, ensuring consistency with international labour standards. The results of this assignment will support national efforts to operationalize the Convention, enhance prevention and protection mechanisms, and advance women’s rights, safety, and dignity in the world of work.

The consultant will be reporting to the WEESC Project Analyst of UN Women in Armenia and will be supported by the Programme Manager of the WEESC Phase III project, as well as UN Women’s operational staff. 

Description of Responsibilities / Scope of Work

1. Legal Review and Analysis
   – Conduct a comprehensive review of Armenia’s existing legal and regulatory framework relevant to violence and harassment in the world of work, including but not limited to labour legislation, occupational safety and health regulations, anti-discrimination laws, criminal and administrative codes, and relevant bylaws and policies.
   – Assess the extent to which national legislation aligns with the provisions of ILO Convention No. 190 and Recommendation No. 206, with particular attention to gender-based violence and harassment.
2. Development of Legal Recommendations
   – Develop clear, actionable, and context-specific recommendations to align Armenian legislation with ILO Convention No. 190  
   – Propose amendments to existing laws and, where necessary, outline the need for new legal or policy instruments to ensure comprehensive protection against violence and harassment in the world of work.
   – Ensure that recommendations address prevention, protection, remedies, enforcement mechanisms, and the roles and responsibilities of employers, workers, and public authorities.
3. Stakeholder Consultation and Coordination
   – Engage, as appropriate and in coordination with UN Women, with relevant national stakeholders, including government institutions, social partners, civil society organizations, and experts, to validate findings and recommendations.
   – Incorporate stakeholder perspectives to ensure practicality, feasibility, and national ownership of the proposed legal reforms.
4. Reporting and Documentation
   – Prepare and submit a comprehensive legal review report outlining the methodology, key findings, identified gaps, and detailed recommendations for legislative alignment with ILO Convention No. 190.
   – Provide a clear mapping table or matrix linking Convention provisions with corresponding national laws and proposed amendments.

– Identify gaps, inconsistencies, and implementation challenges in the current legal framework in relation to the Convention’s requirements.

Deliverables

All provided deliverables should be in Armenian and English Languages.

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel:

This is a home-based consultancy to be provided in Yerevan, Armenia. No travel is required.

Competencies :

Core Values:

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Leading by Example.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework: 

Functional Competencies:

• Strong knowledge and in-depth understanding of gender equality and women’s empowerment issues, challenges and motivations in the private sector. 
• Ability to organise and complete multiple tasks by establishing priorities. 
• Experience establishing, building and sustaining effective relationships with the private sector partners
• Strong networking skills.
• Knowledge and expertise in gender research and policy analysis;
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills;
• Excellent negotiation skills;

Required Qualifications:

Education

• Master’s degree or equivalent in law (international law, labour law, human rights law, gender and equality law, or a related legal field) is required.
• A first-level university degree in law in combination with two additional years of qualifying professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:

• At least 7 years of relevant professional experience with a bachelor’s degree or 5 years with a master’s degree in legal analysis, legislative review, and legal or policy reform related to labour law
• , human rights, gender equality, or violence against women.
• Demonstrated experience in reviewing and drafting or proposing amendments to national legislationin the areas of labour relations, non-discrimination, occupational safety and health, or prevention of violence and harassment.
• Proven experience working with international legal instruments and standards, particularly ILO conventions and/or international human rights treaties; experience with ILO Convention No. 190 is a strong asset.
• Experience engaging with government institutions, social partners, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders in legal or policy reform processes.
• Proven experience in applying gender-responsive legal analysis and policy recommendations.
  Proficiency in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.); experience in handling document management systems is required.
• Excellent analytical, drafting, and report-writing skills.

Languages:

Fluency in English and Armenian is required.

Statements:

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Diversity and inclusion:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)

Note: Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history, are completed. If all sections are not completed the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.