National Consultant on Hate Speech (SSA) Roster Call - OSCE Mission to Moldova, Chisinau

• Issued by: OSCE Mission to Moldova
• Requisition ID: MOL000069
• Contract Type: Special Service Agreement (SSA) / Consultant
• Grade: No grade
• Job Type: Consultant
• Number of posts: 1
• Location: MOL - OSCE Mission to Moldova, Chisinau
• Issue Date: Apr 18, 2024
• Closing Date: May 1, 2024
• Education Level: Bachelor's Degree (First-level university degree or equivalent)
• Job Field: Human Rights

Background:

One of the key mandates of the OSCE is to promote tolerance and non-discrimination, as enshrined in its basic documents, such as the Helsinki Final Act of 1975 and subsequent Ministerial Council Decisions. The OSCE's commitments in this regard include the recognition of the inherent dignity and equal rights of all individuals, regardless of their race, ethnicity, religion, or other status. 
In recent years, the OSCE has increasingly focused on addressing the rising phenomenon of hate speech and its detrimental impact on social cohesion, stability, and security within the OSCE region. 
Hate speech, defined as any form of communication that promotes hatred, hostility, or violence against individuals or groups based on their identity, poses a serious threat to democratic values, human rights, and the rule of law. Recognizing the urgent need to counter hate speech and its negative consequences, the OSCE has adopted various commitments and initiatives to address this issue. 
These include the Ministerial Council Decision on Tolerance and Non-Discrimination (MC.DEC/16/12), the Berlin Declaration on Anti-Semitism adopted in 2004, and the Málaga Recommendations on Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights Education adopted in 2010. 
In line with its mandate and commitments, the OSCE recognizes the importance of promoting awareness, education, and dialogue as essential tools in combating hate speech. By empowering individuals and communities to recognize and counter hate speech effectively, the OSCE seeks to foster a culture of tolerance, respect, and understanding within the region. Against this backdrop, the OSCE supports campaigns and initiatives aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of hate speech, promoting media literacy, and strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations, journalists, Equality Council and Ombudsperson to monitor and respond to hate speech effectively. Through these efforts, the OSCE contributes to building more inclusive, resilient, and peaceful societies in the OSCE region and beyond.

The OSCE is committed to achieving a better balance of women and men within the Organization.

 Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the Human Dimension Officer and the National Programme Officer, the expert will perform:

1. Developing a road mapping analysis and methodology in collaboration with an international expert. Within this task, the consultant will be responsible for the following activities:
    - Conducting a thorough review of existing online news platforms, research studies, and best practices related to hate speech identification and its impact on vulnerable communities;
   - Developing a roadmap outlining the key steps and milestones for identifying and addressing hate speech, including but not limited to: Establishing criteria and indicators for identifying hate speech across various communication channels (e.g., social media, traditional media, public discourse); 
   - Designing data collection methods and tools for capturing instances of hate speech and monitoring their dissemination;
   - Identifying vulnerable categories of people who are disproportionately affected by hate speech (e.g., ethnic minorities, religious groups, LGBTQ+ individuals, migrants, refugees);
   - Designing a methodology for analyzing and categorizing hate speech incidents based on their nature, severity, and impact on different vulnerable groups;
   - Preparing a comprehensive report documenting the findings, recommendations, and methodology for hate speech identification.
2. Conducting two-day training seminars for journalists from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru river, in order to increase their practical knowledge on tackling different types of hateful discourse, especially in mass media (2 days);
3. Conducting two-day training seminars for the Ombudspersons from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru river and for the Equality Council in order to increase their practical knowledge on tackling different types of hateful discourse, especially in mass media (2 days);
4. Leading and monitoring the implementation of the public campaign in schools from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru river, in order to increase awareness about hate speech among pupils and teachers;
5. Developing a small leaflet with practical recommendations about how to tackle hate speech online.

Duration of Assignment:

The duration of the consultancies will depend on the specific projects/activities

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, please see: https://www.osce.org/mission-to-moldova. 

Necessary Qualifications:

• Advanced University degree in Law, human rights, development studies, social sciences or other relevant fields of education. Any diplomas or certificates related to hate speech awareness are considered an asset;
• At least 4 years of experience working on matters related to hate speech and discrimination, including monitoring, reporting, and addressing such incidents;
• At least 3 years of experience in raising awareness, advocacy, and/or capacity-building of professional audiences, including civil society in Moldova.
• Strong analytical and research skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information and develop practical solutions;
• Experience in working with diverse stakeholders, including government officials, civil society organizations, and marginalized communities;
  Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Romanian, Russian and English;
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multicultural environment;
• Digital literacy and proficient use of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint), internet.
• Self-disciplined and responsible to deadlines;
• Ability and willingness to work as a member of team, with people of different cultural, and religious backgrounds, different gender, and diverse political views, while maintaining impartiality and objectivity.

Remuneration Package:

Remuneration will be based on the selected consultant's/expert's qualifications, experience, the tasks and deliverables for this position and in accordance with the OSCE established rates.

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/.

Please note that applications received after the deadline, submitted in different formats than the OSCE Application Form or in other languages than the English language will not be considered.

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration.

Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization. 

Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.