The post holder will lead and shape a project on women workers' rights in South Asia, focussing on the garment sector primarily, in order to scrutinise, challenge, interrogate and expose human rights risks/violations in the sector using qualitative and/or quantitative research methods. The post-holder will have the opportunity to spearhead novel investigative techniques combining traditional human rights research methods with participatory methods, collaborating with a wider range of actors who are already active and established in the field of workers' rights in South Asia.
As a Senior Researcher, you will scope and design investigations into the sector, working conditions, the impact of post-Covid 19 restrictions and their impacts on human rights; manage consultants and relationships with partners to produce compelling evidence of human rights abuses, and provide visualisations and action-oriented materials on research findings; drive innovative research-based investigations on workers' rights in the given countries; contribute to position papers, reports, articles and other publications; represent Amnesty International externally and advocate for the promotion and protection of human rights as they relate to workers' rights in the region and provide technical expertise and advice to the Amnesty International movement on the issues at hand. Please note that even if you do not meet all our desired qualifications but have a skillset and background relevant to this space, we would like to hear from you
Main Responsibilities:
Co-develop a strategic research and investigations plan with the project team, investigating the human rights concerns impacting women in the garment sector in South Asia, with a view to gathering evidence of human rights abuses in the post-Covid 19 world and the liability of all actors in the supply chain whose actions and inactions impact the rights of women workers.
Manage the evidence gathering, consultations, interviews and triangulation of data, tracing the supply chain to source and the impact that it has on lived experience of women workers in the garment sector using innovative research methods.
Represent Amnesty externally and in the media and act as an expert spokesperson on workers' rights issues in South Asia in order to raise public awareness of Amnesty and its calls for action, build support for concrete recommendations for change, and position Amnesty as a champion and supporter on this issue.
Proactively identify opportunities to investigate human rights abuses in the garment sector; use outputs of research and investigations to inform AAL's policy recommendations, advocacy and campaigning.
Skills And Experience:
Strong technical understanding of the international human rights law framework on workers' rights along with a strong understanding of the domestic human rights obligations under common law and domestic laws in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.
Experience in conducting field research, contacts and networks with workers' rights groups in the region and leading a research project with multiple consultants, research objectives.
Demonstrated experience of carrying out complex research and investigations projects and producing high quality outputs, and ability to work independently and to lead the project team.
Understanding and commitment to equality, intersectionality, anti-racism and decolonial practices as well as a commitment to elevating the voices and experiences of affected and marginalized communities within tech and human rights research.
Excellent public speaking skills and ability to communicate complex technical concepts and research findings to a range of audiences including policymakers, journalists, academics, other CSOs and more.
