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

Regional overview

Impact by Regions,
Countries & Territories
Europe and Central Asia

The Europe and Central Asia region experienced multiple crises in 2022, including intensified armed conflicts, the war in Ukraine, the January events in Kazakhstan, the increased cost of living, and the climate emergency. In this context, the support from the Global Programme on Rule of Law and Human Rights helped deliver and expand the scope of UNDP operations in the region and shift the regional rule of law assistance to crisis programming where necessary.

In 2022, UNDP’s Istanbul Regional Hub (IRH) began work on emerging issues such as legal support for people displaced as the result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the rule of law in politically challenging contexts, promoting responsible business conduct in times of crisis and conflict, human rights-based approaches to digital governance and the protection of civic space. UNDP provided policy and programme advice and helped 11 Country Offices in mobilizing additional resources for projects in the areas of rule of law, justice, security and human rights.

Partnerships

UNDP solidified its regional partnerships with the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Council of Europe, and European and Asia-Pacific networks of national human rights institutions. Five joint regional events were organized to promote regional exchanges on SDGs and human rights, capacity building of NHRIs, business and human rights, data protection, and implementation of human rights in cyberspace.

Developing people-centred approaches to justice and security challenges as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, including the displacement crisis

Integrated response

Leave No One Behind

UNDP support contributed to improving access to justice for displaced people in affected countries. The projects were launched in Armenia, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine in close coordination with UNHCR, UN Women, and other partners with financial contributions from the governments of Germany and Japan. In Ukraine, women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities were the largest groups fleeing their homes. UNDP has therefore made extensive efforts to ensure that all its initiatives have been developed with gender equality and inclusivity in mind. Furthermore, UNDP is exploring opportunities for cooperation on security sector reform and governance in the region together with the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF).

Human rights promotion in the digital age

Innovation

In 2022, UNDP kick-started the initiative to help Governments to improve the regulatory frameworks on data and human rights protection in online space. To promote the application of human rights impact assessments in the design of technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI)-driven systems, UNDP launched the scoping study on “The impact of digital technology on human rights in Europe and Central Asia” and organized two learning activities on the methodology for human rights impact assessments: a regional workshop for 170 human rights and technology experts in collaboration with the experts from the Council of Europe, and also training for UNDP Country Offices. UNDP Country Offices in Azerbaijan and Türkiye launched similar initiatives in partnership with their respective national human rights institutions (NHRIs).

Partnerships

Through the regional consultations organized by UNDP in partnership with the OHCHR Regional Office for Central Asia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan strengthened their implementation practices to integrate human rights recommendations into national SDG monitoring, implementation and oversight processes. The consultations were held within the framework of the project "Strengthening the interaction of the UN System with international and regional human rights mechanisms to achieve the SDGs” implemented by UNDP and OHCHR globally.

Business and Human Rights

UNDP hosted the 3rd UN Regional Forum on Business and Human Rights in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, in partnership with the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights. Over 150 representatives of governments, think tanks, civil society, NHRIs, business associations, and development partners discussed a roadmap for responsible business conduct in view of the war in Ukraine. To feed the discussions, UNDP presented its 2022 Regional Scoping Study on the implementation status of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. In addition, UNDP supported the launch of business and human rights initiatives in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye and Ukraine, funded by the Japan Supplementary Budget (JSB).

Environmental justice

Innovation

Partnerships

Leave No One Behind

UNDP launched environmental justice projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan, focusing on capacity development for national actors.

The projects are implemented in cooperation with the Aarhus Convention and its Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers Secretariat (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe - UNECE).

The environmental justice work in the region was designed with a special focus on the situation of women environmentalists, human rights defenders and rural women directly affected by climate change.

Support for National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs)

In 2022, IRH continued its support to NHRIs in the region. A regional workshop for NHRIs from Central Asia, organized by UNDP in cooperation with the OHCHR Regional Office for Central Asia under the Central Asia Support Initiative for National Human Rights Institutions (CASI-NHRI) brought together representatives from all five NHRIs from Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan). It provided a platform for fruitful dialogue to identify the most pressing challenges and determine opportunities for enhanced regional cooperation.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL)

IRH supported the Country Offices in designing their MEL systems for the rule of law and human rights projects, guided by existing UN and European Union toolkits, in developing theories of change, indicators, and results frameworks. IRH also supported the development of regional studies in partnerships with think tanks and academia to advance thought leadership in the areas of business and human rights and the impact of digital technologies and AI on human rights. The studies reflect the regional trends, challenges, and opportunities for change and will serve as the baseline for the region.

Below are some highlights:

  1. Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

  2. The text of the Aarhus Convention is available at https://unece.org/DAM/env/pp/documents/cep43e.pdf.