| Overview : Access to justice is an essential component of rule of law and a means for women to actively claim the entire range of rights provided for in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). In practice, although Viet Nam has made progress in the area as highlighted in their recent Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) reviews, elements of discrimination and challenges remain in many instances when women seek justice, both within the laws and within justice systems in Viet Nam. The 2018 ICCPR List of Issues highlights shortcomings in laws that discriminate against women, state action to combat domestic violence, women’s access to protection and assistance. According to the requirement of the CEDAW, Viet Nam has to submit the ninth periodic report on implementation of CEDAW in July 2019. In July 2015, the CEDAW Committee adopted a general recommendation on women’s access to justice, noting that the right of access to justice for women is essential to the realization of all the rights in CEDAW, key components include: justiciability, availability, accessibility, good quality justice systems, effective remedies, and accountability. Some of these issues were addressed in the National report discussed by the Universal Periodic Review Working Group in Geneva 21 January – 1 February 2019, focusing mainly on: “efforts made to improve the legal and policy framework on gender equality” highlighting the 2016-2020 National Program on Gender Equality and National Action Program on Preventing and Combating Domestic Violence and many important projects. However, satisfactory evidence was not provided to show that the recommendations have been fully implemented and what will be done to address the gaps. It is therefore recommended that special attention is given to the gaps highlighted, including: (1) The implementation of relevant national laws that accord priority to the judicial process to ensure women’s access to justice; (2) the development of a comprehensive legal aid scheme so as to ensure effective access by women to the courts, including in cases of discrimination and violence against women; (3) programs to enhance women’s awareness of their rights and legal literacy in all areas of the law; and necessity of monitoring the implementation of the national action plan to prevent all violence against women and ensure access to justice. In such context, in order to have objective and comprehensive data on access to justice for women in accordance to CEDAW requirements, under the EU JULE Project, UNDP and the Legal Department of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) will conduct a study on the right to access to justice for women in accordance to CEDAW requirements (hereinafter referred to as the study). Such study should build upon previous reports, including the “Trial of rape” study conducted by UNDP, UN Women and UNODC. The activity will be carried out by 02 national consultants and 01 international consultant hired by UNDP in cooperation with the MOLISA Legal Department. The two national consultants and one international consultant will work together as a team. The Legal Department, MOLISA will support the consultants to conduct the research. Procurement Notice with enclosed TOR and evaluation criteria are in the attached files. Interested offerors are invited to submit CVs, financial proposals and other information following guidance in the Procurement Notice to: Procurement Unit UNDP Viet Nam 304 Kim Ma, Ha Noi, Viet Nam Tel: (+84 24) 38500100 Direct: (+84 24) 38500195 Email: nguyen.thai.duong@undp.org with notification by email (without attachment) to: procurement.vn@undp.org that the bidder has submitted proposal. UNDP will not be responsible for the missing of proposal if the bidder does not send notification email to above address. Deadline for submission: 17.00, 04 July 2019 (Hanoi time) | 
