CDD- Ghana is recruiting an intern to support the establishment and operation of the Network of Lawyers for Human Rights, Ghana (NLHRG).
Ghana is a democratic constitutional state governed by the rule of law, with constitutional guarantees of the protection of the rights of all persons without regard to sex, gender, ethnic origin, and religious beliefs, subject only to narrow specific exceptions as specified therein. Ghana is also a signatory to regional and international charters, conventions and protocols guaranteeing the safety and protection of all persons.
The introduction of the ‘Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021’ (now renamed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2024) to Parliament in 2021 as a private member’s bill endangered the lives of LGBTQ+ persons and their community. The 25-clause Bill sought to enact, among other things, popular prejudices against LGBTQ+ persons into law, including the imposition of fines and terms of imprisonment for the offenses the Bill has created. The Bill also includes provisions clamping down on LGBTQ+ identities, relationships, associations, advocacy, and promotion of LGBTQ+ rights; the imposition of a duty to report obligation on all persons.
The bill sets a dangerous precedent for the treatment of unpopular minorities in general and weakens the country’s democratic culture, norms, and institutions. Already the introduction of the Bill has worsened discrimination and stigmatization of LGQBT persons and has contributed to a climate of hostility, discrimination, and violence against LGBTQ+ persons and communities. There has also been nationwide reporting of widespread physical violence and psychological abuse, extortion, and discrimination against LGBTQ+ persons, even before the Bill was passed.
On February 28, 2024, the Bill made its final passage through the legislative process, and it passed in a voice vote. The next step in the law-making process is for Parliament to forward the Bill it has passed to the President for his assent or disapproval. However, should the president assent or refuse to assent to the Bill becoming law, CDD-Ghana will continue to pursue through the courts applications to strike down the Bill/law as unconstitutional and a violation of the fundamental human rights provisions under the 1992 Constitution. In the interim, there is the urgency to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ persons from abuse and discrimination while the legal issues play themselves to a conclusive end. It is in this regard that a network of lawyers for human rights was conceived to provide legal services to community members who may fall victim during this period.
LGBTQ+ persons face several disparities in accessing legal services to defend their rights, and they are often at the mercy of the Police and unscrupulous persons in their communities. CDD’s engagement with the leadership of the community across the country has revealed that at the top of the needs of the community is the limited and often non-existent access to legal services, leaving them with little access to justice when their rights are violated. To deal with this, we propose to create a nationwide network of lawyers who can be contacted to provide legal support and services to community members when their rights are infringed upon. In the aftermath of the Bill passing the House, this concept has assumed immediate importance as there is the likelihood of increased
attacks, discrimination, and rights violations against suspected LGBTQ+ persons. The idea of a standby coalition of lawyers is thus timely and necessary in the campaign to protect the rights of the community.
The Network is being set up to protect the rights of all persons, including LGBTQI+ persons, from abuse, discrimination, extortion, and unfair treatment, and improve their safety and security.
Specifically, the Network will:
- Ensure access to justice for LGBTQ+ persons across Ghana’s 16 regions;
- Provide legal representation and assistance for community members who are charged and/or detained at police stations, and secure dignified treatment and fair processes for them, including admission to bail;
- Represent accused persons before courts in Ghana and afford them the protection and security of the law;
- Build up a jurisprudence on cases involving LFBTQ+ persons
The Position
Under the responsibility of the Coordinator, the intern will:
- Develop a registry of lawyers;
- Perform initial background research on reported cases of rights violation and prepare briefs for Network lawyers, as needed;
- Communicate with lawyers via phone, email/zoom, to assign cases and maintain a database of all cases
- Perform administrative tasks such as sending out invoices and records
- Maintain a register of and coordinate appointments and court dates
- Organize online meetings, prepare minutes, and build up the regional and national network base)
- Maintain communication by creating and updating of content and news on the website and social networks;
- Prepare reports as required
Qualifications
Level: Master / PhD candidate
Skills and Competencies
Interest in social and development issues; ability to work in a team; planning and organization; rigor; ability to synthesize; good writing skills.
Language Skills: Good command of language, including English and at least 1 Ghanaian language
Duration: 16 months, subject to satisfactory performance
