29 June 2016: Participants at the Annual Meeting of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) shared lessons on strengthening the rule of law to sustain peace and foster development. The meeting, which addressed the topic ‘Strengthening the Rule of Law in Crisis-affected and Fragile Contexts,’ highlighted obstacles to establishing the rule of law in such situations and called for progress on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 (Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels).

In remarks to the meeting, UNDP Administrator Helen Clark said establishing strong and accountable institutions, “anchored in the rule of law,” is essential to peacebuilding. As highlighted in resolutions of the UN Security Council and UN General Assembly, she said, peacebuilding activities must not be limited to post-conflict periods. Clark also said that partnerships are critical in ensuring that the UN system’s work on the rule of law is complementary, not competitive. She described the Global Focal Point for the Rule of Law in Post-Conflict and other Crisis Situations, which facilitates joined-up support, and noted that the UN has approved funds for five peacekeeping missions that support multi-agency rule of law activities.

A high-level panel addressed opportunities for strengthening the rule of law. Lana Nusseibeh, Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), highlighted challenges women face in participating in formulating and implementing the rule of law. Mali’s Minister of Justice, Human Rights, and Guardian of Seals, Sanogo Aminata Malle, shared efforts to promote the rule of law and access to justice in Mali. Guatemala’s Attorney-General, Thelma Esperanza Aldana Hernández de López, described experiences in advocating for the rule of law, transparency and justice. Mabedle Chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission, Lawrence Mushwana, who spoke as a representative of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, discussed the work of such institutions around the world.

Building links between formal and informal justice systems widens access to justice, according to UNDP’s annual report on its ‘Global Programme for Strengthening the Rule of Law in Crisis-Affected and Fragile Situations,’ which UNDP launched at the meeting. The report highlights achievements, such as: consolidating and reforming the legal aid system in Bosnia and Herzegovina; working with stakeholders to develop a shared vision for a Special Criminal Court in the Central African Republic; forming a victims’ network to advocate for victims’ needs and participate in the justice system; and increasing women’s and girls’ awareness of and access to the justice system. On lessons learned, the report emphasizes the importance of: guaranteeing victims’ participation in transitional justice from design to implementation to make amends for past abuses and build conditions for reconciliation; combining national commitments with strong political will; and placing people at the center of justice and security reforms. [UNDP Administrator Statement] [Our Perspectives: Peace: An opportunity for the environment in Colombia] [UNDP Rule of Law Website]