Legal Consultant – Human Rights Defenders – Escazú Agreement

About the role

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) seeks a legal consultant to support the implementation of the Regional Action Plan on Human Rights Defenders in Environmental Matters under the Escazú Agreement. The consultant will work closely with the ECLAC team and the Escazú Secretariat to advance legal and policy initiatives across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Key responsibilities

• Prepare agenda notes, meeting minutes, analytical summaries, and supporting documentation for the ad‑hoc working group on human‑rights defenders.
• Draft substantive and technical documents, recommendations, and implementation tools related to the Regional Action Plan.
• Conduct legal and policy research, maintaining an up‑to‑date repository of legislation, public policies, jurisprudence, and related information in the Observatory on Principle 10.
• Support monitoring, follow‑up, and reporting on the Plan’s implementation, identifying progress, challenges, and emerging trends.
• Develop capacity‑building materials and awareness‑raising tools on Article 9 of the Escazú Agreement.
• Provide analytical inputs to the Secretariat and coordinate with governments, civil society, experts, and international organizations.

Required profile

• Advanced degree in law, international law, environmental law, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience in human‑rights or environmental‑law research and policy analysis.
• Familiarity with the Escazú Agreement, especially Article 9, and regional legal frameworks.
• Strong written communication skills in English; Spanish proficiency is an advantage.

Required skills

• Legal research and analysis
• Drafting of policy documents and technical reports
• Knowledge of international environmental and human‑rights instruments