Awareness-raising campaigns on available justice services reached over 28,000 people (including 16,000 women) in remote areas, particularly those affected by the armed conflict. Traditional road shows adapted to the local context reached over 7,000 people, including almost 3,000 women.
In Cabo Delgado, the province most affected by violent extremism, UNDP supported the Legal and Judiciary Training Center in strengthening capacity of 30 community court judges, paralegals and local authorities (including four women).
UNDP’s support contributed to strengthening the capacity of 90 judges from Cabo Delgado, Niassa and Nampula (provinces of Northern Mozambique) on human rights, international humanitarian law, terrorism prevention, as well as investigation and adjudication of cases of violent extremism. Furthermore, 35 prosecutors and investigators improved their knowledge of investigative techniques in cases of conflict-related sexual violence.
UNDP support enabled nationwide consultations on NAP on business and human rights, spanning 55 days and involving over 1,000 stakeholders. This contributed to the publication of the second Baseline Report on business and human rights in Mozambique in November 2023, and the second draft of the NAP in late 2023.
The Rule of Law and Human Rights Programme in Mozambique aims to strengthen the rule of law and the protection of human rights, by improving access to justice and community security, particularly in communities affected by conflict and violence, and by strengthening the capacities of human rights mechanisms and institutions, thus contributing to bolstering the social contract in country. In 2017, armed hostilities broke out in the Province of Cabo Delgado in Northern Mozambique. Ranking at the bottom of the country’s development rates, the province has faced historical marginalization and uneven access to basic services and socio-economic opportunities . The situation has further deteriorated with the discovery of the offshore natural resources, leading to evictions and loss of livelihoods with little or no compensation. More than 4,200 people have died in the hostilities while more than 856,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have lost their loved ones and/or found themselves without properties and livelihoods. The influx of IDPs has caused tensions and insecurity in host communities.
In 2021, to ensure a coordinated response to the crisis, the Government of Mozambique requested the United Nations, the European Union (EU), the World Bank (WB) and the African Development Bank (ADB) to conduct a Recovery and Peacebuilding Assessment (RPBA) and develop a multi-sector strategy for the provinces of Nampula, Niassa and Cabo Delgado. In September 2021, the Council of Ministers approved the Reconstruction Plan for Cabo Delgado, where UN agencies are part of the structure at provincial level (as invited guests and for coordination purpose). In June 2022 the Council of Ministers approved the Resilience and Integrated Development of the North Programme (PREDIN), which was developed based on the RBPA exercise. UNDP’s project funded by the Global Programme for Strengthening the Rule of Law, Human Rights, Justice and Security for Sustainable Peace and Development contributes to the joint initiative to strengthen the rule of law and protection of human rights in Cabo Delgado, improve access to justice and security, bolster social contract and lay the foundations for peacebuilding.
ACCESS TO JUSTICE
UNDP’s rule of law interventions in Mozambique included expanding access to legal aid and empowering rights holders, especially in rural and remote areas. Working at central level with institutions, as well as at local level with decentralized level institutions and communities enabled UNDP and its partners achieve results with potential for a sustainable impact for the rule of law, human rights, justice and security.
At the community level, UNDP supported the Ministry of Justice through the Institute for Legal Assistance (IPAJ) and two feminist civil society organizations (CSOs) to organize awareness-raising campaigns in ten districts of Cabo Delgado, Niassa and Nampula. Information about available justice services reached people in remote areas, including in those affected by the armed conflict. More than 28,000 people (including over 16,000 women) benefited from these campaigns.
In partnership with IPAJ, UNDP organized road shows in Nampula and Cabo Delgado provinces. The road shows are traditional means of interacting within communities with the elements of performance. Through the shows, over 7,000 people, including almost 3,000 women, were reached and sensitized on child marriage and gender-based violence, as well as informed about free legal aid services provided by IPAJ. According to IPAJ, the demand for legal aid services has increased as a result of these campaigns.
UNDP also supported digitalization in tribunals and courts in Ouagadougou, Bobo-Dioulasso and Tenkodogo by launching electronic criminal records system that allowed 20,000 citizens to receive electronic criminal records between October 2023 to March 2024. The system also reduced the time and costs associated with requesting a criminal record. In Burkina Faso, criminal records are necessary to obtain identification documents, access basic services or to apply for a job.
To promote social cohesion, UNDP strengthened the capacities of 50 local civil society organizations (CSOs) in citizen control of mining activities and promoting religious tolerance.
