Call for applications: Consultant for the drafting of a bill prohibiting child, early and forced marriages

Date of posting: 9 May 2018

The Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD), with the support of Global Affairs Canada, and in partnership with Oxfam, Al Mujadilah Development Foundation, United Youth of the Philippines-Women, and the Philippine Business for Social Progress, seeks to contribute to ending violence against women and girls, specifically child, early and forced marriages, in the Philippines through the project entitled, “Creating Spaces to Take Action on Violence against Women and Girls.”

PLCPD seeks to contribute to policy reforms to end the practice of child, early and forced marriages in the Philippines. The country has ratified several international human rights instruments explicitly prohibiting child, early and forced marriages such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Locally, the Magna Carta of Women and the Family Code of the Philippines set the legal age of marriage at 18 years old.

Despite these international and national legal frameworks, child marriage is still practiced in the Philippines, for example among indigenous cultural communities. Child marriages in indigenous communities are higher due to limited access to resources and basic services, few educational and economic opportunities, and higher rates of poverty than in non-indigenous communities. Among Muslim communities, the Code of Muslim Personal Laws (CMPL) allows marriage of girls at the onset of puberty which is presumed to be at 15 years old.

In relation to the above, PLCPD is looking for a consultant who will draft a national bill that will meet the following policy objectives:
– harmonize existing laws with provisions explicitly setting 18 years old as the legal age of marriage;
– mandate the nationwide full implementation of the Family Code of the Philippines and other relevant laws with regard to the age of marriage such as the Magna Carta of Women;
– repeal laws with conflicting provisions on the age of marriage

Tasks of the consultant

Under the guidance of PLCPD, the legal consultant/bill drafter shall:

– participate in consultation meetings and discussions to identify the content or salient provisions of the bill
– take the lead in drafting the bill
– ensure that the policy objectives are met in a legally sound manner
– present drafts of the bill to project partners and key stakeholders
– consolidate inputs/feedback and enrich the bill

Proposed timeline

The bill drafting is expected to be completed within a three-month period, from 15 May to 15 August 2018.

Terms of payment to the consultant

The consultant who will draft the bill will be paid in the following tranches:
– 35% upon signing the contract
– 25% upon submission and approval of the first draft of the bill
– 25% upon submission of the second draft of the bill incorporating comments
– 15% upon submission of the final version of the bill

Qualifications

The consultant may be an individual or organization who has experience in policy analysis which include drafting bills, and has a strong background work on human rights issues, particularly women and girls’ rights. Minimum qualifications:
1. Graduate of law or post-graduate in social sciences or relevant discipline;
2. Has documented experience and background on policy analysis which include developing and drafting bills;
3. Knowledgeable about and has work experience in the field of women and girls’ rights.

How to apply

Interested parties may send their letter of intent, curriculum vitae or organizational profile, and sample work through email at plcpdfound@plcpd.org.ph (copy: angelicaramirez@plcpd.org.ph) not later than 18 May 2018. Please address your email to Mr. Romeo Dongeto, Executive Director of PLCPD.

For inquiries, you may get in touch with our office at (02) 7096480.

The call for applications with detailed timeline is found here.