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.

Finances overview - Africa

Anti-racism

Making UNDP’s programmatic offer truly anti-racist

After the murder of George Floyd, racial justice protests and movements emerged in the United States and spread to all corners of the world. In the same period, 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. In March 2021, based on the report and recommendations of UNDP’s Advisory Group on Anti-Racism and Anti-Discrimination, the Administrator committed to make UNDP an actively anti-racist organization and to review how UNDP’s programmatic offer in areas like governance, the rule of law and human rights directly contributes to this agenda.

The Director of the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support and the Director of the Crisis Bureau decided to recruit a Senior Advisor on Anti-Racism to be tasked to assess UNDP's programming and policy offer through an anti-racism lens. Rita Izsák-Ndiaye was appointed in October 2022 for this role. Housed in the Rule of Law, Human Rights, Justice and Security team, Rita Izsák-Ndiaye is working under the guidance of the senior management of Bureau for Programme and Policy Support and Crisis Bureau and closely with the Executive Office, the Regional Bureaux and UNDP Bureau for External Relations and Advocacy.

The Senior Advisor has been analysing and assessing how UNDP’s programmatic offer directly contributes to anti-racism and discrimination and if the current anti-racist, anti-discriminatory and other relevant tools available are adequate to ensure anti-racist and anti-discriminatory programming. Ms. Izsák-Ndiaye organized a mission to New York in November 2022 to carry out consultations with team leaders and various colleagues around the Global Policy Network and other relevant bureaux. Based on her initial findings and recommendations, she will work towards the creation of an organization-wide Anti-Racism Programming Action Plan to further facilitate anti-racism programming and accountability, which is expected to be tabled in the fall of 2023.