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.

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Foreword

In 2022, peace was again shattered in many parts of the world as violent conflicts, now at their highest levels since the Second World War, devastated lives and livelihoods. Some of the worst human rights violations occur during these conflicts, which includes the scourge of gender-based violence against women and girls. The rule of law also continued to decline globally. Indeed, over five billion people globally still have unmet justice needs. There is also a notable contraction in civic space being fueled by a range of factors including polarization and increasing hostility towards civil society. In 2022, over 400 human rights defenders were murdered, the highest number ever recorded. At the same time, some of the world’s most vulnerable communities are at the receiving end of a climate emergency that is leaving a trail of destruction in its wake and impeding access to a wide range of human rights.

In this demanding context, the latest phase of UNDP’s Global Programme for Strengthening the Rule of Law, Human Rights, Justice and Security for Sustainable Peace and Development (2022-2025) commenced. In 2022, it provided 104 contexts with the tailored and flexible assistance they need to deliver justice; improve security; and respect, protect and fulfil human rights.

The UN Global Focal Point for the Rule of Law continued to be a fulcrum for varied support including assisting e-justice systems and improving living conditions in prisons. In the Central African Republic, UNDP partnered with the UN peacekeeping mission, MINUSCA, to support the Special Criminal Court, which issued a first verdict against individuals accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes. UNDP also boosted the ability of 38 National Human Rights Institutions worldwide to ensure freedom of expression; protect human rights defenders; and hold governments to account. That support was often extended through the Tripartite partnership between the UN Human Rights Office, GANHRI and UNDP. Our Global Offer on Business and Human Rights was also scaled up, now providing the private sector in 28 countries with new tools to fully integrate human rights into their business.

In this demanding context, the latest phase of UNDP’s Global Programme for Strengthening the Rule of Law, Human Rights, Justice and Security for Sustainable Peace and Development (2022-2025) commenced. In 2022, it provided 104 contexts with the tailored and flexible assistance they need to deliver justice; improve security; and respect, protect and fulfil human rights.

The UN Global Focal Point for the Rule of Law continued to be a fulcrum for varied support including assisting e-justice systems and improving living conditions in prisons. In the Central African Republic, UNDP partnered with the UN peacekeeping mission, MINUSCA, to support the Special Criminal Court, which issued a first verdict against individuals accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes. UNDP also boosted the ability of 38 National Human Rights Institutions worldwide to ensure freedom of expression; protect human rights defenders; and hold governments to account. That support was often extended through the Tripartite partnership between the UN Human Rights Office, GANHRI and UNDP. Our Global Offer on Business and Human Rights was also scaled up, now providing the private sector in 28 countries with new tools to fully integrate human rights into their business.

UNDP’s support is increasingly embracing digital technology to boost access to the rule of law and human rights in countries such as Burkina Faso, Colombia, Lebanon, Liberia, and The Gambia. The Justice Futures CoLab provides a new space to explore new ways of thinking and programming to address complex justice and rule of law challenges. UNDP also presented its first-ever global strategy on environmental justice to help ensure that national legal frameworks put the new recognition of the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment into practice.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our donors and partners who make these life-changing results possible. This support to key areas like human rights and the rule of law creates a lasting impact from which all 17 Sustainable Development Goals can take root and flourish, influencing what happens next for years to come. Rather than building physical or metaphorical borders, it pivots on the principle of co-investing in each other – perhaps the most powerful defence against challenges such as climate change that now threaten our global security.

Achim Steiner,
Administrator, United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP)

  1. https://press.un.org/en/2023/sc15184.doc.htm

  2. https://worldjusticeproject.org/rule-of-law-index/insights

  3. The World Justice Project. (2019). Measuring the justice gap: a people-centered assessment of unmet justice needs around the world.

  4. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/04/colombia-human-rights-defenders-killings-2022