Legal Specialist (Ukraine) | Full-time, fixed term contract

June 27, 2022

Two women and a man use their mobile phones to take photos of a dam

©Anastasia Taylor-Lind

About eyeWitness

eyeWitness seeks to bring the perpetrators of atrocities to justice by providing technical expertise in building photo and video dossiers that can be authenticated for use in criminal investigations or trials.

eyeWitness has developed the eyeWitness to Atrocities camera app which allows users to capture photos and videos embedded with unmodifiable metadata. This metadata verifies where and when the footage was taken and whether the image was altered or not. Both the images and the metadata are stored in a secure gallery within the app where they cannot be edited. The user then submits them to a storage database controlled by eyeWitness and hosted by LexisNexis. The transmission protocols and secure server system set up by eyeWitness creates a chain of custody that allows this information to be presented in court.

An expert legal team analyses all information received, identifies the appropriate international, regional and/or national bodies to investigate further, and liaises with these mechanisms and our partner organisations to ensure the material is acted upon.

eyeWitness develops close partnerships with litigators and organisations on the frontlines documenting human rights violations and other abuses that can amount to core international crimes (genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity). We provide these organisations with the technology and the expertise that increases the impact of their footage, by ensuring that the images can be authenticated for use in criminal investigations or trials, or for any other accountability efforts. An expert legal team analyses all information received, identifies the appropriate international, regional and/or national bodies to investigate further, and liaises with these mechanisms and our partner organisations to ensure the material is acted upon.

eyeWitness is a charity registered in the UK and governed by a Board of Trustees, with additional expertise provided by an Advisory Board. The names and affiliations of the Board members can be found on our website www.eyewitness.global.

About the role

Responsibilities:

Review and analyse photo, audio, and video submissions and their metadata related to the ongoing armed conflict in Ukraine received from the eyeWitness to Atrocities app, including translating footage received in Ukrainian and/or Russian, triaging footage, producing reports, and mapping trends.

Monitor and prepare internal reports on the evolution of the armed conflict in Ukraine since 24 February 2022.

Assist with legal and factual research into the crimes allegedly committed in the context of the ongoing armed conflict in Ukraine on the basis of the footage received from the eyeWitness to Atrocities app.

Assist with the preparation of dossiers and cases, including conducting searches, curating data, compiling analyses, and co-drafting submissions.

Assist with the preparation of training materials and delivery of trainings for users of the eyeWitness to Atrocities app covering the ongoing armed conflict in Ukraine.

Assist with communicating with users or potential users of the eyeWitness to Atrocities app in Ukrainian and/or Russian.

Location: The role will be based in London, with a combination of remote and in-office working.

Conditions of contract: Full-time, fixed term contract. The initial contract term will be six months with the potential to renew for another six months depending on the needs of the project. eyeWitness was founded by the International Bar Association (IBA)and the employment contract will be with the IBA, with the employee seconded to eyeWitness. Same benefits package and conditions that apply to IBA employees will apply (e.g. holidays, time off in lieu, pension).

Salary Range: circa £32,000, depending on level of experience.

About the team

We are a small and multicultural team with expertise in human rights investigations, case building and technology. We are passionate about the use of technology to promote accountability, and have strong networks in countries where human rights abuses are recent or ongoing.

Our work is at the forefront of law and technology. It is varied, multifaceted and creative, but also highly technical.

We operate in a flexible, responsive way, constantly liaising with activists and human rights defenders who are often in high-risk locations. We are driven by their needs and concerns

We work as collaboratively as possible. We enjoy sharing ideas and finding solutions as a team.

About you

You are an enthusiastic team player, highly organised, and forward thinking. A quick learner, you will be able to work with professionals of a variety of cultures and disciplines. You will know how to juggle multiple priorities and lead cases and projects with minimal supervision.

You will have interest and passion for international justice for the most egregious crimes and will have a commitment to improving the standard of evidence presented in human rights cases, both in judicial and non-judicial settings.

Requirements:

First-level university degree in law (Advanced degree in criminal law, international criminal law, international humanitarian law, or international human rights law desirable).

Experience analysing and managing evidence for case-building before national, regional, and/or international accountability mechanisms.

In-depth knowledge of the Ukrainian legal system and geopolitical context.

Fluency in oral and written English and Ukrainian (Russian is also desirable).

Flexibility and ability to work under pressure, independently and with minimal supervision, take initiative and prioritise tasks.

Candidates applying should be aware that there will be a requirement to review potentially graphic content of atrocities and may need to travel internationally.

How to apply

Please email a CV and cover letter with details about how you meet the position requirements to general@eyewitness.global.

Deadline to apply: July 18, 2022. However, this position is available immediately, and eyeWitness may begin conducting interviews on a rolling basis prior to the deadline.

Please note that eyeWitness may interview on a rolling basis.

For any queries and to apply, please email: general@eyewitness.global