Regional Highlights

In Burkina Faso, UNDP is supporting the government to strengthen people-centred security and undertake security sector reform to contribute sustaining peace.  The country faced recurrent attacks and inter-community violence in the Sahel region throughout 2018.  In order to better respond and understand the fight against terrorism and organized crime with respect for human rights and gender, 144 gendarmes (25 women) and 104 police officers (12 women) received specialized training. UNDP also helped to improve the relationship between people and security forces by building the capacity of the Community Policing Department and local authorities to involve community members in preventing conflict and fighting impunity. Moreover, UNDP enabled national partners to reactivate the Defense Council and the committees (including representatives from Parliament and civil society) in charge of the elaboration of the Defense and Security National Policy and building coherence of the law. These platforms will help to ensure that a holistic, inclusive, and people-centred vision for the security sector drives implementation of reforms, including through the creation of sectoral strategies and road maps.

In Burundi, UNDP is working with national partners to enhance monitoring mechanisms for gender-based violence and empower survivors. In 2018, UNDP enabled the courts to collect data on gender-based violence in a predictable and sensitive manner, improving the evidence basis for the adjudication of cases and serving as a deterrent of future abuses. Over the course of the year, the Tribunals of First Instance adjudicated 278 cases of gender-based violence and the Prosecutor’s offices closed an additional 622 cases. UNDP also supported 268 gender-based violence survivors to navigate the complex justice system and seek redress by accessing free legal aid. Moreover, UNDP strengthened the capacities of the Humura Centre, which provides integrated support to gender-based violence survivors. Survivors of gender-based violence are often discriminated against, making it difficult for them to heal, regain a sense of normalcy, and provide for their families once they have reported the abuse. In 2018, the Humura Centre provided vocational training to 109 survivors of gender-based violence from two communities of Gitega Province. The beneficiaries of these trainings are now selling their products and running small businesses to help them meet their basic needs.

In Côte d’Ivoire, UNDP is helping the government to consolidate security gains after the withdrawal of the peacekeeping mission, through a comprehensive approach to disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration, and security sector reform. In 2018, UNDP supported the National Commission of Small Arms and Light Weapons to raise awareness of the importance of voluntary deposit of illegally held arms and ammunitions, which led to the collection of 914 weapons, 105 ammunitions, and 5 grenades. UNDP also supported the training of 400 ex-combatants who have been integrated into the Penitentiary Guards Corps on the respect of human rights, good citizenship, and ethics, enhancing their capacities to serve in public administration. In addition, UNDP supported the installation of 5 new civil-military committees and enabled 10 committees to conduct socio-security diagnoses and develop action plans to address the identified risks. These committees provide a unique space for the population to engage in regular dialogue with the military and receive support in addressing their security concerns.

In The Gambia, UNDP is dedicated to supporting people achieve their vision of peace and reconciliation for their country. An inclusive, nationally driven transitional justice process has already proven critical for addressing underlying tensions and consolidating democracy. In 2018, the Comprehensive National Strategy for Transitional Justice in The Gambia was developed through broad consultations in rural communities throughout the year. Maintaining a focus on gender equality and victims participation, UNDP supported 26 media professionals, 25 civil society representatives, 84 religious and traditional leaders, 100 youth, and 100 children to contribute to the formulation of the strategy document.  In addition, the Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission was formally launched in October 2018. With support from the UN, the commission is now fully operational and has begun collecting statements, undertaking investigations, and holding public hearings. The UN also helped to strengthen coordination and communication between the commission and other institutions driving transitional justice, such as the Constitution Review Commission, to maximize impact in the years to come. 

In Guinea-Bissau, UNDP is working with national partners to address state fragility by strengthening the justice system and its service delivery to the population. In 2018, UNDP supported the establishment of two sectoral courts in the Oio and Bolama regions, greatly expanding the reach of the formal justice system. In the absence of an official mechanism to provide legal aid to vulnerable people, UNDP enabled the Access to Justice Centre to provide legal advice and mediation services to over 1,981 people in 2018, which is a 20% increase from 2017. Moreover, UNDP worked with the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, the Access to Justice Center, and the Bissau-Guinean Bar Association to develop a new legal aid strategy. By implementing this strategy, an additional 100 people (44 women) benefited from free legal aid services over the course of the year. The strategy’s success led to the submission of a new bill, proposing that the Access to Justice Centre becomes the official legal aid mechanism for the country, accompanied by state funding. If adopted, Guinea-Bissau will have reached a major milestone in ensuring that no one is left behind as the country progresses towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In Sierra Leone, UNDP is supporting the judiciary to increase the efficiency of the provision of justice throughout the country. Key to this has been the establishment of the Prison Courts to address the high-rates of pretrial detention and criminal case back log. In 2018, the Prison Courts held 11 sessions, providing the opportunity for more than 1,000 inmates to appear before the court. These sessions led to 425 indictments issued by the Director of Public Prosecution and the provision of free legal assistance to over 650 defendants. Moreover, these sessions identified 25 urgent cases of pre-trial detention (lasting 3 years or more) and escalated them to the Court of Appeals, resulting in the immediate release and acquittal of 24 defendants. The Prison Courts also help to increase accountability for magistrates. In 2018, numerous cases of prolonged sentencing (up to 28 years) were identified, even though magistrates are legally only allowed to give a maximum sentence of five years. In addition, the Prison Courts support families of detainees in identifying the location and condition of their relatives in prison and their advocacy efforts have led to increased hours of visitation and the removal of the restriction against child visits. UNDP’s support to the Prison Courts, the continued roll-out of the electronic case management system (Justice App), and key legislative reforms enacted in 2018 (review of Correctional Act 2014 and Prison Rules 1961) have contributed to a decrease in the unsentenced detention population by 11% since 2015, marking significant progress towards SDG16 in Sierra Leone.

In South Sudan, UNDP focuses on enhancing efforts for crime prevention and increasing public confidence in the police. In 2018, UNDP supported the Police and Community Relations Committees to hold 266 meetings across 8 different areas of the country. The meetings provide a unique opportunity for members of the community to raise concerns directly with the police and enable people to take an active role in maintaining public safety and security. The meetings help to mitigate conflict in areas with limited or no presence of the formal justice system by settling communal disputes directly and serving as an important channel for alternate dispute resolution mechanisms. In 2018, 107 cases were solved through alternate dispute resolution mechanisms, including on issues related to land disputes, cattle raiding, child marriage, and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). In addition, UNDP supported the police to conduct outreach efforts, raising the awareness of 8,342 people (2,935 female) on the services available to them and how to report incidents to enable prompt response. The outreach efforts and committee meetings held over the course of the year have led to improved coordination between the police and community members, particularly around reporting and prevention of SGBV and other crimes. In total, the police responded to 10,279 calls received by the Emergency Call Center in 2018, providing immediate assistance to those in need.

In Zimbabwe, UNDP is supporting efforts to consolidate and pave the way for lasting peace amid efforts to deal with the past.  In October 2018, Zimbabwe’s 5-year National Peace and Reconciliation Strategic Plan was adopted at a high-level stakeholder conference. The plan is aligned to rights-based approaches to transitional justice, including gender-sensitive provisions to ensure effective participation of women. The inclusive and consultative approaches taken to develop the Strategic Plan, including citizen consultations held in 10 provinces and the direct involvement of 1,800 stakeholders, has expanded the space for Zimbabweans to openly engage on the subject of healing through dealing with the past. Civil society, media, and faith-based organizations in particular have been empowered to take an active role in the discussions. As a result, ‘healing and reconciliation’ have been identified as key development and reform priorities in the national development plan, Transitional Stabilization Programme (2018-2020).

In Iraq, UNDP has worked with the Kurdistan's Directorate of Violence Against Women (DCVAW) to enhance their capacity to provide adequate support to survivors of SGBV over the last decade. DCVAW has now positioned itself as a lead government agency providing support services to SGBV survivors. In 2018, DCVAW conducted 40 legal and SGBV awareness raising sessions reaching a total of approximately 1,200 internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, and host community members (960 women) in 6 locations across the Kurdistan Region (Erbil, Sulaimaniya, Duhok, Garmyan, Raparin, and Soran). The beneficiaries shared that the sessions helped them to understand the impact of SGBV, how to prevent it from happening in their families and communities, and the available resources for survivors in accessing  justice. In addition, DCVAW revived and restored 6 Reconciliation Committees, enabling them to resume their services to displaced people in and out of camp settings and resolve 660 cases of domestic violence throughout the year.

In Jordan, UNDP has invested in a Programme Manager to provide both technical and politically nuanced support to strengthen the country’s rule of law investments to lead to lasting impact. In 2018, UNDP supported a Justice Sector assessment, which identified opportunities for intervention in complementarity with other development partners. Building on the assessment, UNDP launched a process to establish several pilot initiatives aimed at supporting primary legal aid interventions. The national debate on legal aid has been reactivated by the participation of the Ministry of Justice, Bar Association, and civil society organizations in the International Legal Aid Conference in Georgia, which has laid the foundations for a more effective cooperation among legal aid actors.  UNDP has also worked with youth groups and police officers to assess the community policing model in Jordan and increase knowledge, understanding, and skills to actively engage with each other.

In Lebanon, UNDP supported the finalization of a normative framework for the municipal police to shift away from a security approach that is state-driven to one that is people-centred. UNDP supported 9 municipalities to pilot the framework in 2018 and helped them align the municipal police’s mission with community needs. In addition, UNDP worked with the Internal Security Forces Academy to reshape their training curriculum to promote a people-centred approach and provide the training to 143 Municipal Police officers from 14 municipalities in 2018. In addition, UNDP helped to strengthen the Central Security Cells, located at the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, to identify and analyze the drivers of tensions among Lebanese and Syrian communities. The findings of security cells in 2018 supported the government’s efforts to tackle rising tensions and informed the early tension monitoring system of the UN in Lebanon.

In Libya, the UNDP-UNSMIL joint programme has been supporting the Government of National Accord’s (GNA) Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Justice to increase the capacities of the police and other justice sector actors including through: rehabilitating and refurbishing the existing training facilities, providing basic training equipment, developing curricula, and training police and judicial police officers. Without building the capacity of the formal security institutions and developing a systematic disarmament and integration process, poor security will remain a major challenge in Tripoli. As a first step, the first group of trained police officers were deployed to the streets of Tripoli to begin to provide security services to the population and the first model police station was inaugurated in 2018. Over time, these changes will begin to help the GNA build trust with the population and provide more effective and legitimate security services over non-state armed groups.

In the State of Palestine, a significant milestone was reached in ensuring access to justice for all in 2018. With support from the joint Sawasya programme (UNDP, UN Women, and UNICEF), the National Legal Aid Strategy was adopted, which provides for the creation of a national legal aid institution in charge of ensuring the provision of free legal aid to vulnerable populations. This independent institution funded by the state will coordinate and fund the provision of free legal information, consultation, and representation for vulnerable Palestinians, especially juvenile, on criminal and family cases. The strategy was developed by a national legal aid committee, composed of representatives of all the relevant Palestinian justice institutions, civil society organizations, and the Palestinian Bar Association. The committee will now work on the development of a legal aid law that will establish the independent legal aid institution. In parallel, Sawasya continued to provide legal aid services to vulnerable populations, with a particular focus on women and children, in the West Bank and Gaza. In 2018, more than 10,316 individuals (including 3,129 women and 2,906 children) benefited from legal services across the West Bank and Gaza.

In Syria, UNDP supports efforts to rebuild confidence between local authorities and communities and restore security at the community level. Six area-based assessments were successfully conducted in 2018 to identify local security and justice challenges and needs in Maaraba, rural Damascus, Qamishli, and Hasakah in partnership with community-based partners. These assessments informed the design and implementation of 10 community security initiatives, which included: implementing community advocacy and awareness campaigns on topics such as SGBV, violence against children, and drug addiction among youth; specialized training on conflict resolution for 40 community leaders from rural Damascus; capacity building for 30 young men and women from the coastal area of Baniyas to promote inclusion of IDPs; installation of 61 solar lighting systems in selected areas to improve safety; and establishment of a community mediation committee in Qamishli, bringing together 10 community leaders from different religious and ethnic backgrounds. These community security initiatives provided space for dialogue among local conflict resolution actors to address sources of conflict, fostered social cohesion between IDPs and host communities, and provided critical services to improve safety and facilitate freedom of movement. 

In Tunisia, UNDP has supported the creation and operationalization of the Truth and Dignity Commission and reinforced its technical capacities in investigating gross human rights violations, preparing a reparation plan to provide compensation and rehabilitation to victims, and drafting recommendations on guarantees of non-recurrence for the past four years. In 2018, the commission completed its mandate by launching the judicial mechanism that will allow the prosecution of alleged perpetrators of past grave human rights violations. Throughout the year, the commission transferred 34 cases to the 13 specialised chambers, created to try serious crimes, out of which 23 are currently being adjudicated. UNDP also supported a total of 71 judges, 16 prosecutors, 24 court clerks, and 85 lawyers from the specialised chambers to receive training on transitional justice and the protection of victims and witnesses. At the end of the year, the commission submitted its final report to the President of the Republic. The commission served as a powerful tool to enable the people of Tunisia to end the culture of impunity in their country and strengthen human rights protection for future generations.

In Yemen, UNDP is focused on ensuring public participation in judicial reforms. In 2018, two public consultations on the accessibility and effectiveness of the courts were held in Aden. Nearly 150 justice stakeholders participated in each public consultation, discussing topics related to judicial independence, access to justice, transparency, and judicial integrity. The consultations benefited from broad participation of national partners and community leaders from Aden and districts in each of the governorates, including police, lawyers, judges, corrections officials, attorneys, civil society members, representatives from the neighborhood councils and tribes, legal aid providers, and activists. The public consultations led to the establishment of regular feedback mechanisms between the courts and the public, a clear policy on promotion based on meritocracy in the judiciary, and a monitoring and enforcement mechanism for judges who violate the judicial code of ethics. Moreover, the public consultations identified a set of priorities to improve the judiciary, which include: capacity building of judges and their assistants; security for judges; rehabilitation of infrastructure; enhanced case management and procedures; and the use of new technologies. Looking forward, UNDP will work closely with the government to ensure that these priority areas are supported.

In Afghanistan, UNDP has been supporting the government to carry out critical reforms and build institutional capacity to strengthen the rule of law and human rights throughout the country. In 2018, UNDP worked closely with the Office of the Second Vice President of the Government of Afghanistan to develop a method for monitoring the government’s Implementation Plan of National Justice and Judicial Sectors Reform (2017 – 2021). This monitoring process will assist in ensuring that the strategic reforms are on track and in accordance with the agreed standards for reforms as well as global indicators under SDG 16. UNDP also supported the Ministry of Justice to ensure inclusivity in legislative drafting.  For example, several community consultations were held to inform the development of the Whistle Blower Protection Draft Law (now an act by Presidential Decree), the Draft Law on Conciliation of Civil Disputes, and the Draft Insurance Law and Regulation.  In addition, UNDP supported the government in establishing the Anti-Corruption Justice Center in 2016, a critical step in the fight against impunity. Since its creation, the center has investigated and prosecuted many cases of corruption, including those involving high-ranking officials. In 2018, the center’s primary court tried 44 cases, leading to the conviction of 142 people and acquittal of 32 people. Meanwhile, the center’s Appeals Court affirmed convictions of 130 persons and acquitted 11.

In Bangladesh, an estimated 688,000 Rohingya, have crossed the border to Cox’s Bazar and the Chittagong Hill Tracts since the latest outbreak of violence in Myanmar on 25 August 2017. This is on top of the previous three waves of Rohingya crossing the border in 1978, 1991, and 2016, bringing the total number of forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals to 908,000 in 2018, according to the Government of Bangladesh. Drawing on a joint assessment by UNDP, UNHCR, and UN Women, UNDP developed a programme to strengthen the resilience of local institutions to respond to the heavy demands of a population that has nearly doubled in size and address risks of intra- and inter-community conflict. In 2018, the programme focused on supporting: alternative dispute resolution processes by increasing the capacity of local mediators, community policing strategies to provide comprehensive services, particularly to victims of gender-based violence, and the establishment of a local office of the National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh. Looking forward, UNDP will continue to work with UNHCR, UN Women, and national partners to respond key community security and access to justice issues in Cox’s Bazar, with a focus on improving the precarious situation for women and girls in the area.

In Myanmar, housing, land, and property (HLP) issues continue to be of key concern in certain areas affected by protracted displacement. In 2018, a HLP baseline assessment was conducted in Kachin State to gain greater insight into the situation of IDPs pre-and post-displacement, identify elements that act as barriers to accessing land rights, and distinguish priorities for potential support to promote the HLP rights of IDPs in Kachin State and increase the likelihood of durable solutions. At the same time, a capacity assessment was conducted of nine civil society organizations and legal aid service providers to handle HLP issues for IDPs. UNDP also worked with the Rule of Law Centers to support specialized training for service providers on access to civil documentation, HLP rights, and IDP protection, to more effectively reach some of Myanmar’s most vulnerable populations. Alongside these efforts, UNDP launched an Area Based Programme in Rakhine State in 2018 to expand the work on access to justice focusing on legal aid and assistance for SGBV survivors and persons in conflict with the law.

In Nepal, UNDP has focused on bridging the gap between informal justice processes and the formal justice system, elevating local needs in institutional responses. In 2018, UNDP supported the establishment of a regular coordination mechanism between the local Judicial Committees and the Justice Sector Coordination Committees in 12 districts, within the three priority provinces for the UN Development Assistance Framework. Over the course of the year, 11 meetings were organized through the coordination mechanism, bringing together representatives from the district courts, district attorney offices, district bar association, district police, local government as well as traditional leaders, and civil society organizations. The meetings provide a space for diverse stakeholders to analyze challenges and develop solutions for increasing access to justice in their communities. Moreover, the coordination mechanism fosters a better understanding between actors on the roles and responsibilities of respective institutions, helping to improve justice services for people around the country.  In addition, UNDP initiated a national dialogue process on Law and Development, ensuring the participation of marginalized groups. Four dialogues were held in 2018 on important topics, such as Business and Human Rights. In total, 70 people participated, including 35% of people from Dalit, Madeshi, and other minority ethnic groups. The outcomes of the dialogues have informed new policy actions already underway, such as the review of a number of Laws and the integration of a Business and Human Rights section within the National Action Plan on Human Rights.

In Pakistan, UNDP has been supporting efforts to improve community security and build the capacity of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police. Since 2012, 62 model police stations have been established (25 in 2018) to deliver people-centred and gender-responsive services to the population, with women desks, community policing halls, investigation rooms, and interview rooms. In 2018, UNDP supported the development of a training programme for female police officers and the creation of female dormitories at two regional training centres, affording more women the opportunity to serve. Throughout the year, 144 (30 women) police officials were trained on gender responsive policing, community policing, supervisory skills, and crime scene investigation. UNDP also helped to introduce e-policing by linking the model police stations with a newly established data analysis centre at the Central Police Office in Peshawar. The centre collects crime data from police stations and enables the automation of police response. Five sets of policing software have been developed, including for: automation of police station registers, investigation management, complaint management system, internal accountability, and community policing. A regional forensics lab was also established in Swat. All of these efforts contribute to a more accountable and efficient police service.

In Sri Lanka, UNDP continues to support transitional justice processes to accompany victims in their journey for justice and facilitate societal healing for sustainable peace and development. In 2018, the Office on Missing Persons became fully functional and established its presence in the Northern and Southern provinces. In 2018, 13 civil society organizations were supported to establish community platforms and empower victims to engage in transitional justice processes. In addition, UNDP helped to take forward institutional reforms and enhance civilian oversight to strengthen guarantees of non-recurrence. These efforts include: supporting the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka to seek re-accreditation to ‘A’ status by GANHRI; vetting of security personnel; enhancing the ability of the National Police Commission to manage complaints; enabling the Right to Information Commission to become fully functional in 2018; and supporting families of the disappeared for filing Right to Information Claims. UNDP also focuses on enhancing access to justice for all as part of an effort to sustain peace and enhance the broader rule of law environment in the country. For example, UNDP provided support to the National Victim and Witness Protection Authority, improved access to legal services for victims of sexual and gender-based violence, and strengthened capacities for psycho-social counseling to victims of crime.

In Timor-Leste, UNDP has worked closely with government partners to bring justice institutions closer to the people they are meant to serve and improve the quality of legal services available. Since 2010, UNDP has facilitated mobile courts in areas where permanent courts have not been established to provide people with accessible, affordable, and efficient legal support. Mobile courts are often the first experience that people living in remote areas have in interacting with a state institution. They play an important role in increasing public awareness of the formal justice  system and building trust in the state as grievances are resolved. In 2018, mobile courts received 708 cases, out of which 332 cases (329 criminal and 3 civil) were adjudicated, benefiting approximately 689 people (260 women) including 197 gender-based violence survivors. Moreover, the criminal cases resolved through the mobile courts constitute 12.4% of the total criminal cases disposed of in the first instance of the four district courts across the country. Alongside these efforts, UNDP also supports state-owned Access to Justice Clinics, focusing on providing free legal aid to vulnerable groups across 8 municipalities. In 2018, the clinics enabled 140 people (30 women) residing in rural areas to access free legal aid and reached 2,845 people (968 women) through awareness-raising campaigns and Alternative Dispute Resolution training.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, UNDP is focused on improving the response of justice sector service providers to enhance access to justice, legal aid, and service delivery for marginalized groups. In 2018, UNDP enabled free legal aid (FLA) services to be provided to a total of 17,598 beneficiaries (8,700 women). Special attention continued to be given to the survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) and incidences of gender-based violence. UNDP supported the development of two resource packages and training tools based on the international and national legal frameworks related to gender-based violence. The packages include Training of Trainers modules for Free Legal Aid (FLA) providers, which enabled 14 FLA agencies to create an expert pool of trainers for continued capacity development and knowledge replication for new staff. These trainings help to ensure sensitive handling of CRSV cases as well as strengthened links between FLA, health, and psychosocial support services, which allows FLA services to serve as a primary entry point for survivors in the wider process of accessing their rights.

In the Kyrgyz Republic, UNDP is working with national partners to expand legal aid throughout the country, particularly for vulnerable and marginalized groups. In 2018, the Free Legal Aid Coordination Centre of the Ministry of Justice established a Legal Aid Coordination Platform to improve collaboration and coordination between state and civil society legal aid providers and increase outreach of services. Approximately 9,489 people, including 4,656 women and 601 persons with disabilities received legal assistance and representation through the 11 Free Legal Aid Centres established with UNDP support under the Ministry of Justice and the Bus of Solidarity, which is a government-led initiative to increase legal information in rural and remote areas of the country. The rights of persons with disabilities continues to be ranked high on the national development agenda. The parliamentary hearing of the Law on Ratification of UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities begun in December 2018 and is foreseen to be enacted in 2019. Seven bills aimed at removing discriminatory provisions against persons with disabilities and publishing relevant criminal laws and codes in Braille have also been tabled in Parliament. UNDP will continue to support these efforts to tackle the barriers faced by persons with disabilities in accessing justice and increase the focus on providing legal aid services to them.

In Ukraine, strengthening the role of the conflict-affected communities to self-identify and tackle community-based challenges lies at the core of UNDP’s interventions. Over 300,000 residents of Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts benefited from community-led initiatives providing services for SGBV survivors and that promote the rule of law, community security, and gender equality. UNDP also focused on developing the capacities of community members and law enforcement bodies in community policing and mobilization to enhance safety and security.  For example, 24 Community Security Working Groups were set up and 170 members of these groups were equipped with new knowledge, capacities, and skills needed for better cooperation and problem solving. 84 initiatives to improve community security were supported on a cost share basis with the local authorities, ranging from installing street lighting to laying speed bumps as well as setting up zebra crossings, fences, and video surveillance cameras. In addition, the mobile application “Your Rights” was designed for SGBV survivors and internally displaced persons to provide step-by-step practical guidance to its users on the protection and restoration of their rights. As a result of these efforts, the overall levels of openness towards other groups in society increased in 2018, from 6.5 to 6.8 in Donetsk Oblast and from 6.3. to 6.7 in Luhansk Oblast (on a scale from 0 to 10 as measured by  a UN Score for Eastern Ukraine survey).

In Kosovo*, UNDP is focused on improving people’s experience in accessing justice, including the timely adjudication of cases, convenience of services, and the quality of support for victims of gender-based violence and domestic violence (GBV/DV). UNDP’s technical assistance and institutional improvements led to a 22% decrease in backlog in first and second instance courts in 2018. The investment made in increasing the capacity of the judiciary with an additional 31 judges and 154 professional legal professionals  was key to this achievement. The revised Law on Mediation supported by UNDP also contributed by opening up alternative dispute resolution channels. In 2018 alone, over 900 cases were referred for mediation, preventing the cases from going to the courts. In addition, UNDP supported national partners to expand legal aid services in the most remote areas of Kosovo through mobile clinics and “door-to-door” outreach for people in need. In 2018, 4,924 (47% women) people from these communities benefited from legal aid services, which is an 18% increase from 2017. UNDP in partnership with UN Women, also developed the capacities of the Kosovo municipal stakeholders in the non-majority municipalities to identify best practices and challenges in improving access to justice for victims of GBV/DV. This resulted in developing and updating four Action Plans on GBV/DV, ensuring their alignment with the National Strategy for Protection against Domestic Violence (2016-2020), which is harmonized with the Istanbul Convention and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Looking forward, the Action Plans will contribute to a more coherent and coordinated approach in addressing violence against women.

*References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999)

In Colombia, UNDP has been supporting the Integral System of Truth, Justice, Reparation, and Non-Repetition formed on the basis of the Peace Accords between the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), signed in November 2016. The three operational arms of the system: the Truth Commission, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, and the Search for Missing Persons Unit were established in 2018, building upon transitional justice capacities built and gains consolidated through UNDP projects. These state institutions are now fully functioning with their own personnel and budget to take forward their respective mandates. For example, with support from UNDP, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace was able to process letters of submission from 6,336 members of the FARC and 2,982 members of the armed forces to transfer their cases to the transitional jurisdiction as well as answer over 7,500 petitions and requests for information. Meanwhile, UNDP’s support to the Truth Commission enabled the core technical team to be deployed six months in advance of the official launching in November 2018, allowing for strategic planning, development of methodological and operational guidelines, and the organization of over 40 events to raise awareness of the commission’s services throughout the country. UNDP also provided assistance to the Search for Missing Persons Unit to begin to locate and identify the tens of thousands of people forcibly disappeared during the conflict. In addition, UNDP facilitated missions for members of the Unit to remote areas of the country to meet with families of victims and civil society to better understand their needs. Finally, UNDP supported the transfer of the most complete database available on the armed conflict in Colombia, documenting about 350,000 cases of serious violations of human rights and International Humanitarian Law committed from 1958 to 2018, from the Observatory of Memory and Conflict of the National Center of Historical Memory to the Integral System of Transitional Justice to take forward in the years to come.

In El Salvador, UNDP supports national partners to improve citizen security by taking forward the holistic strategy, entitled the El Salvador Seguro Plan. In 2018, UNDP prepared the first monitoring report of the El Salvador Seguro Plan (2016-2017), which provides evidence-based information across 80 indicators of progress in 21 result areas. The findings of the report reveal numerous insights, including the effectiveness of aligning national and international resources for prevention in the most vulnerable municipalities as well as the importance of an efficient justice system to achieving medium and long-term impact. Drawing on the lessons learned, UNDP supported the National Council for Citizen Security and Coexistence to update the El Salvador Seguro Plan and its implementation strategy to form a comprehensive package of public policies on citizen security, which are being implemented in 50 municipalities. The updated plan maintains a focus on reaching the most vulnerable groups as well as in ensuring inter-institutional coordination. To help turn these polices into action, UNDP co-created the National Council’s governance mechanism with multi-sectoral participation from society. UNDP also helped to establish of a human rights-based discussion forum with civil society as well as conducted a public awareness campaign on the regulations in place for the use of force and lethal weapons by the police to improve oversight and accountability of the National Civil Police.

In Guatemala, UNDP is dedicated to strengthening pathways for transitional justice. In total, UNDP support to public institutions and civil society organizations to promote the rule of law, peacebuilding, and democracy in 2018 enabled more than 3,000 victims of the internal armed conflict to access justice, truth, and reparations. For example, UNDP supported the Office of the Public Prosecutor and civil society organizations to produce documentaries and research to reinforce the investigation of 12 emblematic cases of human rights violations during the conflict. Three cases proceeded to trial, where judicial decisions were issued in accordance with international human rights standards as well as national regulations, resulting in two convictions and one acquittal. The approval of the Human Rights Policy of Criminal Prosecution of the Public Prosecutor's Office helped create an enabling environment for the cases to progress. In addition, more than 8,000 case files from the conflict were digitized and entered in the Public Prosecutor Informatic Integrated Case Management System. This system has contributed greatly to the search for missing persons as a result of the armed conflict and has strengthened the evidence base for families seeking justice and reparations. Lastly, UNDP supported civil society organizations to provide legal and psychological assistance for victims of the conflict, empowering them to utilize the justice system and to participate in the identification and inhumation of their missing family members.