The UN and UNDP in Brussels

Democratic Governance : Justice and the Rule of Law

The justice sector programme of UNDP is concerned with the independence, impartiality and fairness of judges, legal literacy, legal aid, pro-poor laws and civic participation in legal and judicial reform. Key features of the work of UNDP in the area of human rights. In crisis countries, UNDP addresses security sector and transitional justice reform in a holistic manner to ensure physical security, equity, due process, maintenance of public order and enforcement of the rule of law. To achieve these outcomes, UNDP promotes and supports the strengthening of justice and security sector policy and activities.

Actions undertaken by UNDP with the European Commission

In the area of Justice and the Rule of Law, UNDP and the Commission cooperate to promote access to justice in many countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern and Central Europe. Most notably in the past few years, the partnership supported the legal empowerment of the poor, enhanced investigative skills of police authorities and national investigation bureaus. Also, they provided facilities and expertise to aid criminal investigation, and supported training and provision of facilities to enhance administration of juvenile justice. An important dimension of the partnership lay in strengthening countries’ capacities to manage their borders in accordance with best practices and international norms, including to combat narcotics and human trafficking. In 2007, the Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan were assisted in strengthening their border management to combat illicit cross-border activities. Due to EC-UNDP collaboration in Kazakhstan, over 100 police officers were trained in integrated border management, and in Moldova and Ukraine, over 1,000 border officials were trained to reinforce effective border and customs controls and strengthen border surveillance. In Afghanistan, more than 200 officers were trained and equipped on precursor chemical control; identification kits were provided to officers and have since been used effectively in the seizure of precursors.

Did you know?

In Afghanistan where the capacity of the judicial system had been decimated by years of conflict, the UNDP and the Commission worked together to strengthen access to and the administration of justice by rehabilitating primary courts and detention centres, training a cadre of judges, prosecutors, lawyers, community and religious leaders, and contributed to strengthening physical security by providing equipment support, training including of female police candidates, and helped sustained the national police force by reimbursing remuneration of police officers.