Rule of Law and Human
Rights Global Programme
Impact
Thematic focus
 = Global Focal Point

Africa

Arab states

Asia-Pacific

Europe and Central Asia

Latin America and the Caribbean

Justice Futures CoLab

The Justice Futures CoLab was launched to promote new ways of thinking and approaching complex justice and rule of law challenges. The CoLab illustrates UNDP’s commitment and strategy to do more and do better (and differently). A more strategic, people-centred and rights-based approach is taken to ensure meaningful access to justice for all, starting with those most at risk of being left behind.

Human rights systems

UNDP continues to support strengthening national human rights systems (NHRIs). Independent, effective and pluralistic NHRIs are cornerstones of national systems to promote and protect human rights.

Anti-racism

In 2021, after racial justice protests and movements emerged in the United States and other parts of the world, the United Nations and its various funds, programmes and other entities also took up a renewed commitment to fight against racism and racial discrimination both within the organization and also through their approaches.

Business and human rights

UNDP has been supporting the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) since 2016. This support has involved programming across the three pillars of the protect, respect and remedy framework, engaging with states, business actors and civil society.

Community security

The global context has become ever more challenging with ongoing war, coups d‘état, attempted coups d‘état, turmoil and instability in several countries. In the midst of such widespread political tension and fragility, UNDP has stayed the course towards people-centred security by promoting solutions that strengthen state institutions in line with people’s needs.

Global Focal Point for the Rule of Law

The UN Global Focal Point for the Rule of Law (GFP) is a joint arrangement for delivery of the rule of law in fragile settings. Co-chaired by UNDP and the UN Department of Peace Operations (DPO), GFP reinforces One-UN approach at the global and national levels to address violent conflicts, protect human rights and restore justice and security for people affected by crisis and conflict.

Regional overview - Africa

Guinea (Conakry)

Impact by Regions,
Countries & Territories
Africa

In Guinea, the support from UNDP’s Global Porgramme for Strengthening the Rule of Law, Human Rights, Justice and Security for Sustainable Peace and Development (the Global Programme) contributed to improving the strategic, legal and regulatory frameworks for justice and human rights, as part of the broader UNDP investments to justice sector reform in the country.

Contributing to the improvement of the legal and regulatory framework, UNDP facilitated the drafting and adoption of the law on legal aid; the law setting the provisions for the protection of victims, witnesses and other persons at risk; the law amending certain provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code and the decree regulating its application.

Human rights

A significant contribution was made to the trial of the events of September 28th, 2009. The opening of this trial, 13 years after the massacre, is a symbol of the fight against endemic impunity in Guinea. UNDP supported the planning of the trial budget, the development of a regulatory framework for the effective and transparent management of the resources allocated to the trial, the establishment of a compensation fund for victims, the digitization of the entire trial file, and the development of a training/improvement plan for magistrates and legal assistants, as well as journalists and security agents. UNDP provided training to 52 lawyers (including six women) involved in the process on fair trial standards and the defence strategy. Computer equipment provided by UNDP to the criminal court in charge of the trial, in particular for recording of and digitizing the proceedings, enabled transmission of content to all parties in a secure, timely and easy-to-use manner.

To sustain national efforts in the fight against impunity, UNDP supported the development of a penal policy and a penitentiary policy, both with the objective to guarantee a diligent, effective penal response that respects human rights, the rule of law and gender equality.

UNDP support strengthened the capacities of the inspection and oversight bodies of the judicial and penitentiary services. Inspection and oversight tools were improved and harmonized to facilitate the collection and processing of data. The Guidelines on Ethics of Judges were updated, and a Code of Conduct for court clerks was drafted to strengthen the ethics and professionalism of justice officials. UNDP interventions also enabled the humanization and modernization of the penitentiary system as well as the socio-professional reintegration of convicted persons.

Gender equality

For women's access to rights and justice, UNDP organized a training for 30 facilitators from civil society organizations (CSOs) on women's rights, transformational leadership, and communication skills. In turn, these facilitators shared their knowledge from the training through information and awareness sessions in chief towns of the administrative regions and the communes of Conakry. In total, 103 sessions were organized, reaching 1,776 people (including 1,244 women).

Partnerships

Within the UN system, UNDP worked with the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) and the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict on rights of victims and witnesses. These UN entities brought in technical expertise and experience, contributing to successful legal reforms in the area. UNDP worked closely with the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, a strategic partner in ensuring the legislative reforms in accordance with Guinea’s international commitments and human rights standards. UNDP also collaborated with the Guinean Bar Association, the National Transition Council and other judicial entities, as well as four CSOs for the defence of women's rights. The partnership with the civil society helped to ensure the implementation of the legislative amendments, sustainability and further access to justice for the most marginalized segments of the population.

lessons learned

Frequent leadership changes in the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, recurrent within a six-month period, affected the implementation of the planned activities. To ensure the project is sustainable and can continue even when there is a change in leadership in a key government partner, UNDP will secure the support to and the ownership of the initiative by the most senior executives and decision-makers.

Key
results
  • UNDP made a significant contribution to the trial of the events of September 28th 2009, supporting the fight against endemic impunity in Guinea.
  • UNDP support contributed to the improvement of the legal and regulatory framework, in particular the development and adoption of the law on legal aid; the law regulating judicial and non-judicial protection measures to victims, witnesses or other persons at risk; the law revising certain provisions of the Code of Penal Procedure and the decree on the application of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
  • Awareness raising on women’s access to rights and justice reached 1,776 people, including 1,244 women, in chief towns of the administrative regions and the communes of Conakry.