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

Tunisia

Impact by Regions,
Countries & Territories
Arab States

In Tunisia, despite significant challenges associated with the political crisis, national coordination, coherence and data collection in support of human rights and SDG-reporting was strengthened through a series of initiatives supported by UNDP and the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) with support from the UNSDG Human Rights Mainstreaming Fund in 2021 and 2022. In parallel, UNDP’s overarching rule of law programme contributed to the development of a resilient and inclusive society where all people can exercise their rights, access justice and enjoy security.

In 2022, UNDP initiated consultations with national stakeholders and other actors to design a new portfolio of projects with justice, security and human rights components. In addition, the inception phase of UNDP’s joint programme with the World Bank on social protection and legal aid was completed. Its results constitute the foundation of a long-term joint programme to be launched in 2023. The initiative aims to strengthen the delivery system of integrated social services to poor and vulnerable populations to better assert their rights and access to justice services.

Leave No One Behind

To enable access to legal aid services for vulnerable individuals, UNDP facilitated capacity building for lawyers and social workers who delivered free legal consultations to 179 people (80 percent women).

Furthermore, UNDP provided technical and financial support enabling national stakeholders to reach the most marginalized groups. With UNDP’s contributions, the local civil society organization ADES designed and delivered trainings for individuals released from penitentiary institutions. Twenty-four former prisoners (including two women) in the governorate of Medenine and in Tataouine were able to reintegrate into society due to micro-projects which provided them with decent work and a new start. In addition, between January 2021 and June 2022, UNDP worked with five civil society organizations (CSOs) to counter human trafficking and support the survivors. Eighty-seven victims of human trafficking or people vulnerable to trafficking (including 69 women) benefitted from the socioeconomic reintegration initiatives.

Innovation

Digital solutions developed with UNDP support contributed to the inclusive access to justice. For example, a “reporter judge” mechanism was introduced in the civil chambers in the first instance court of Medenine to reduce the time spent for court considerations. This mechanism, and the system of virtual trials launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulted in a 20 percent increase in case clearance rates.

Gender equality

UNDP in Tunisia promotes gender-responsive citizen security and community-based approaches to crime prevention, mainly by strengthening institutions responsible for public safety and security, such as the police and the judiciary. UNDP provided support to the Tunisian Ministry of Interior (MoI) and the Internal Security Forces (ISF) in the adoption of the code of conduct for the ISF, the ministerial policy on inspections and the code of conduct and ethics for the MoI inspectors. Among other achievements, the draft law on local security committees was finalized, a community policing programme was developed and the concept of gender was officially integrated in the internal strategy of the MoI, in line with the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security.

Business and Human Rights

UNDP is also supporting the Tunisian Government and companies through a global project on business and human rights (B+HR) that promotes a just recovery while preserving the competitiveness of companies. The project strengthens responsible business practices through improving the ability and understanding of national authorities and businesses to carry out Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD).

By raising awareness among government officials and facilitating the multi-stakeholder participation in the B+HR Summer School organized by the Human Rights International Corner and the B+HR Academy (targeting government officials, state-owned companies and unions), UNDP helped equip these stakeholders with the skills and knowledge necessary to implement B+HR principles in their respective organizations and advocacy activities.

This support has enabled the Tunisian Government to state its official commitment to implementing the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). During the Geneva Forum on Business and Human Rights in November 2022, Tunisia was one of the countries that made commitments to develop the National Action Plan in partnership with UNDP.

Human Rights and SDG Integration

UNDP and OHCHR supported Tunisia to develop its first SDG16 Progress Report expected to be launched in 2023. To inform the report, a survey tool on SDG16 developed by UNDP, OHCHR and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) was piloted in 2021 in collaboration with the National Statistics Institute at the governorate level in Medenine to provide localized data on the perception of human rights, fundamental freedoms, security and local governance that was previously not available. More than 500 people responded to the survey providing key insights into public perception on these topics.

To promote the role of civil society in the monitoring and reporting of human rights in connection with the 2030 Agenda, UNDP and OHCHR also supported CSOs to develop a Spotlight Report on the status of SDG16. The SDG16 Spotlight Report was finalized in September 2022, and some of the survey findings used to inform the report were socialized with local stakeholders through a 'Theatre of Trust' performance in June 2022.

To jointly analyse the findings of the SDG 16 Progress Report and the SDG16 Spotlight Report, UNDP and OHCHR supported the organization of a policy dialogue between public authorities and civil society in March 2022. Through this dialogue, policy briefs on the various themes and targets of SDG16 were developed, providing concrete recommendations to advance implementation of SDG16 in Medenine. In addition, a national policy brief was developed with the participation of key national civil society associations.

Key
results
  • UNDP-supported digital justice solutions at Medenine’s court of first instance resulted in a 20 percent increase in case clearance rates.
  • Human rights and SDG-reporting was strengthened through a series of initiatives supported by UNDP and the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), including Tunisia’s first SDG 16 Progress Report, expected to be launched in 2023, and the Spotlight Report on the Status of SDG16 launched by Civil society organizations in Medenine in collaboration with public authorities to develop concrete recommendations to promote a peaceful, just and inclusive society.
  • Tunisian Government has officially stated its commitment to implementing the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and developing a National Action Plan, with support of UNDP.

  1. https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1o/k1oceocm1d (minute 20:20 to 28:03)