As you may be aware, Sudan hosts the largest number of Eritrean refugees
who will be subject to the Cessation Clause when it takes effect on 31
December 2002. UNHCR Sudan is then looking for lawyers to assist its
office in the status determination of claims for continued refugee
status.

Please share this information with your high calibre students and
colleagues with law background and Refugee Status Determination (RSD),
who are available and willing to work in Sudan for a period from August
15 to December 31 2002. The lawyers will be working under United Nations
Volunteer Contracts.

I attached a detailed Job Description, including background, salary and
tips about Sudan. Expression of interest  and CVs of  potential
candidates should be sent to me at [log in to unmask] or my colleague
Rosa Zorzo at  [log in to unmask]

Thank you very much for your kind attention.

Best regards,

Renato Pinto

UNV Programme Officer
UNDP - Sudan
Tel: 249-11-783820
mobile: 249 (0) 12299748
FAX: 249-11-773128 or 783764

Attachment:

UNHCR Sudan is looking for lawyers to assist with a refugee status
determination exercise. Lawyers should be available to work in Sudan for a
period of five months -  from 15 August and 31 December 2002. Candidates
should have experience in refugee status determination or have been involved
in providing legal assistance to refugees and asylum seekers.

Candidates should specifically possess the following qualifications and
skills:
- A degree in law
- Knowledge of refugee status determination procedures and criteria for
assessment of refugee claims
- Ability to independently conduct interviews with refugees, including
critical/analytical skills, technical writing skills, and ability to work
with interpreters
- Attitude and aptitude: commitment to refugees, flexibility, ability to
work in a UNHCR context in cooperation with Government counterparts
- Ability to live and work in challenging situations including field
locations.
- Basic computer skills
- Fluency in spoken and written English
- Cross-cultural experience and sensitivity

Selected candidates will under the supervision of the status determination
Co-ordinator perform the following tasks:
- Conduct eligibility interviews in a thorough manner in order to
sufficiently gather accurate and detailed information to assess eligibility.
- Analyze the information gathered during each eligibility interview against
country of origin information to make a sound assessment of each claim.
- Maintain and generate accurate records of information relating to
individual cases assessed both in physical and electronic form.
- Assist in the generation of internal reports including updates on country
of origin information

Candidates will be recruited by UNHCR Sudan under the International United
Nations Volunteer scheme, which would provide them with an monthly allowance
of around US$2000 tax free. Travel to and from, as well as within the
country of deployment and a settling in grant are also covered. For
additional information on the UNV scheme see: www.unv.org

Interested candidates are requested to submit their CVs to UNHCR Sudan to
the attention of Rosa Zorzo at [log in to unmask] or Renato Pinto
[log in to unmask] by 15 July 2002. Fax: +249 11 473101 or email:
[log in to unmask]

Background
In February 2002, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees declared
the Cessation Clause to take effect on 31 December 2002 for all Eritrean
refugees who fled their country as a result of the war of independence or
the 1998-2000 border conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Sudan hosts a substantial number of both categories of refugees defined
under the Cessation Clause. In line with international requirements the
implementation of the Cessation Clause in Sudan will include a status
determination procedure to adjudicate claims for continued refugee status
for individuals who are not able to return to Eritrea because of a well
founded fear of persecution or compelling reasons arising out of previous
persecution (art. 1(A).2 and 1(C). 5 of the 1951 Refugee Convention).

UNHCR and the Government of Sudan have designed a status determination
operation that will allow adjudication of claims registered between 1
September and 31 December 2002. The operation aims at completion of the
status determination process by 31 December 2002. The adjudication of claims
is a joint exercise of lawyers recruited by UNHCR and counterparts of the
Government of Sudan. Status determination interviews will be conducted by a
UNHCR lawyer and one Government of Sudan representative and decisions will
be based on a consensus of the two partners. The interviews will be
conducted throughout Sudan, more specifically Khartoum and other major
cities like Port Sudan, Kassala, Gedaref as well as in the refugee camps in
Gezira, Gedaref and Kassala states. The entire area of operation  is in
nothern Sudan and therefore not affected by the ongoing civil war in Sudan.


A Few Tips on Sudan

Sudan is in general a safe country for areas outside the ongoing civil war.
The war in the Southern part of the country does not affect life and
activities in major cities (Khartoum, Port Sudan, Kassala, Wad Medani,
Gedaref) in the country and Eastern Sudan where most of the refugee
population is located. Particularly on the issue of crime, Sudan is one of
the safest places you will encounter.

Sudanese people are hospitable, friendly, and respectful with foreigners. It
is a Muslim country with Sharia law but you will never get harassed by the
locals. Foreign women should follow simple rules like wearing long skirts
(or trousers) and long sleeves blouses, there is no need to cover your
head/face. In private parties you can wear whatever you want.

WEATHER:
During August/September the weather is sunny, very hot and humid (rainy
season), from October to December will be sunny and warm, you may need just
a jumper for some occasional cool evenings.

Clothing: natural fabrics and easy to wash materials, like cotton, are the
most convenient.

HAZARDS: during the rainy season there are lots of mosquitoes and the risk
of malaria is high. It is advisable that you bring with you a mosquito net
for the bed and plenty of mosquito repellent.

Please also consult your local doctor on whether you should take malaria
tables and on vaccinations needed for Sudan.

COMMODITIES:
In Khartoum you will find everything you need: toiletries, fresh fruits and
vegetables, foreign food products, etc, but in other cities outside the
capital it is difficult to find a choice of every day products, therefore,
it is advisable that you bring a little stock of  toiletries and some cans
of your favourite food.

If you want good reading, bring some books with you, there is very limited
choice of foreign language books in Sudan.

MONEY: bring cash with you, preferably US$, Euros, etc.
Credit cards are only accepted in three big hotels in Khartoum (Hilton,
Grand Villa, Palace Hotel).
DO NOT BRING TRAVELERS CHEQUES,  THEY ARE NOT ACCEPTED ANYWHERE.

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