Child Justice Officer

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favouritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) was established by the United Nations in 1946. Its core mission is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, across all aspects of its work — including programmes, advocacy, and operations. UNICEF’s equity strategy, which prioritizes the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment into action. Advancing equity accelerates progress toward realizing the human rights of all children, as enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also contributing to the equitable development of nations.

This National UN Volunteer (NUNV) assignment is part of the Justice and Legal Empowerment Programme Phase II, funded by the European Union (EU JULE II). EU JULE II aims to support the consolidation of a socialist rule-of-law state in Viet Nam by strengthening the institutional capacity of key legal and justice sector agencies to effectively protect the legitimate rights of all people, in accordance with the country’s Constitution and international commitments. Building on the achievements of Phase I, EU JULE II seeks to advance a justice system that is people-centered, accountable, and inclusive — ensuring that all individuals, especially those in vulnerable situations, can meaningfully access quality, transparent, and rights-based legal and judicial services.

EU JULE II pursues two interlinked outcomes: improving access to a higher-quality, transparent, inclusive, and independent justice system, and strengthening the capacities of justice institutions and the general public to a legal and judicial system that aligns with international human rights standards to which Viet Nam is a party and is adapted to the country’s specific conditions and circumstances. Strategic outputs include harmonizing legal provisions, improving legal aid and public service delivery, supporting alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms, fostering digital innovation in the justice sector, and promoting child-friendly and gender-sensitive justice practices.

EU JULE II consists of three components: a Contribution Agreement, a non-state component, and peer-to-peer technical assistance from EU Member States. The Contribution Agreement is jointly implemented by UNDP and UNICEF, in partnership with the Ministry of Justice (MOJ). Under this agreement, UNICEF contributes to both outcomes, working closely with MOJ and other stakeholders to drive systemic and lasting reforms that improve access to justice for children and strengthen protection for women survivors of gender-based violence in Viet Nam.

In this context, the Child Protection Section of UNICEF Viet Nam is seeking to recruit a National UN Volunteer (NUNV) Child Justice Officer to support the implementation of UNICEF’s interventions under the Contribution Agreement.

Under the delegated authority and the supervision of the Child Protection (Justice System) Specialist (NOC), and with overall guidance from the Chief of Child Protection Section, the Child Justice Officer will support the implementation of UNICEF’s planned activities under the Contribution Agreement of EU JULE II. Specifically, the officer will undertake the following tasks:

- Support the planning and reporting of UNICEF’s planned activities under the Contribution Agreement of EU JULE II, including development of monitoring tools, data collection, and reporting mechanisms to track progress, assess impact, and support field monitoring and programme visits.
- Support the implementation of interventions related to digital transformation in child justice settings, and the development and rollout of specialized service models for children in contact with the law and women survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), including legal aid, diversion, and reintegration services.
- Coordinate, support, and monitor the development of child justice and GBV training programmes for law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, social welfare officers, and other stakeholders in selected provinces.
- Contribute to the preparation of quarterly and annual work plans for UNICEF’s child justice activities under EU JULE II, and follow up closely with implementing partners to ensure effective and timely execution.
- Collaborate with UNDP colleagues to support the coordination of planning and review meetings/workshops involving the Ministry of Justice and other implementing partners.
- Provide administrative and logistical support for project implementation, including organizing meetings/workshops, taking minutes, drafting of relevant communications, briefings, and presentations, translating/interpreting as needed, and assisting with donor visits.
- Perform other duties as required to support the achievement of project objectives and the broader goals of the Child Protection Programme.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

- Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take an active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
- Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
- Provide annual and end-of-assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
- Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
- Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers;
- Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.