Trial Monitor

Position: Trial Monitor
Reports to: SJAC Trial Monitoring Lead
Location: Stockholm, Sweden

About the Consultancy:

Syria Justice and Accountability Center (SJAC)’s comprehensive trial monitoring program establishes a historical record of Syria-related trials and ensures the availability of documentation for victims and families. Many domestic trials of perpetrators in the Syrian context lack official court transcripts and/or translations, rendering proceedings opaque, limiting the scope of testimony available, and hindering future opportunities for reflection on human rights violations and justice processes. SJAC’s launched its trial monitoring program in 2020 with the trial of Anwar R. and Eyad Al-Gharib in Koblenz, Germany, and has continued to monitor key Universal Jurisdiction cases to establish a historical record of international crimes.

The Syria Justice and Accountability Centre (SJAC) seeks a temporary trial monitor based in or near Stockholm, Sweden to support its ongoing monitoring of the Mahmoud S. trial. The trial monitor will coordinate with the SJAC Trial Monitoring Lead to monitor assigned trial hearing days, take notes, and write trial monitoring reports. The number of hearing days attended per month is approximately 2, with flexibility. The position is paid at a rate of $50 per hearing day attended.

General Duties:

• Attend all court proceedings for assigned trials in the Universal Jurisdiction trial against Mahmoud S. before the Solna District Court on international crimes committed in the siege of Yarmouk, Damascus
• Conduct background research on factual and legal matters that arise or are likely to arise during the trial proceedings
• Draft and review English-language reports on trial proceedings
• Liaise with SJAC’s trial monitoring team for the publication process and legal matters related to the trial proceedings

Qualifications:

• University degree required. A degree in law, human rights or a similar field is preferred. Current students may apply.
• Knowledge of Swedish criminal procedure. Knowledge of Syria and the Syrian conflict preferred.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written).
• Experience or interest in monitoring trials.
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Fluency in Swedish and English.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Live in or near Stockholm, Sweden.
• Ability to function professionally and effectively with co-workers and supervisors.

SJAC is a diverse organization made up of 60+ team members around the globe. We pride ourselves in our ability to implement programming that is inclusive and responsive to the needs of all Syrians, and believe that our own team’s diversity of viewpoints and experiences helps us to achieve that goal. We encourage all interested applicants to apply, regardless of race, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or age.