Impact by Regions, Countries & Territories

UNDP’s Global Programme supports crisis-affected contexts across all regions to strengthen the rule of law and human rights. In this section, we present five regional overviews, detailing our priorities and approach depending on the context, as well as feature select country and territory results from 2021.

Five contexts from the list (Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Mali and Yemen) illustrate the achievements of the Global Focal Point for the Rule of Law (GFP). In peacekeeping missions and transition settings, UNDP’s Global Programme works through the GFP to deliver integrated assistance with our UN partners.

GFP Global Focal Point Highlights

Africa

Arab States

Latin America & The Caribbean

Asia-Pacific

Europe & Central Asia

Political
Engagement

The rule of law is essential for sustainable peace and resilient economies, as well as for the prevention or recurrence of conflict. To prevent or address injustice, inequalities or democratic deficits, UNDP works with multiple stakeholders to operate in a way that is consistent with the rule of law and creates opportunities for all individuals to exercise their rights and access justice.

Institution
Building

The importance of strong institutions is more evident than ever as countries and communities respond to disruption, whether because of public health restrictions, climate change or political upheaval. Limitations on public gatherings and travel have revealed the need for institutions that are resilient to disruption.

Community
Security

2021 was a pivotal year that saw various developments affecting peace and security around the world. Civic space continued to shrink and the social contract between states and citizens was increasingly challenged, particularly during and after the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Facing distressing consequences of climate change, states and communities are forced to manage more cross-border conflicts, triggered by the displacement of people seeking increasingly scarce resources.

Human Rights
Systems

The scope of human rights challenges is widening, from eroded public trust and shrinking civic space to ongoing inequality and human rights impacts in the socio-economic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, and emerging risks in the digital sphere. National human rights institutions (NHRIs), along with other human rights defenders, are facing rising and sophisticated forms of reprisals for carrying out their work.

Access to
Justice

Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) of the 2030 Agenda highlights the importance of access to justice for all for the development of peaceful and inclusive societies. Meaningful access to justice can only be achieved when people know their rights, have the opportunities, agency and capacities to claim them, and have access to independent, inclusive and people-centred justice systems that will respond in a timely, fair and effective manner.

Transitional
Justice

Without justice, there can be no lasting peace. In post-conflict, crisis-affected and fragile contexts, truth-seeking initiatives and reconciliation efforts are essential to bring peace to affected communities. The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down transitional processes as states prioritized their response to the health crisis and measures to support the economy.

Gender
Justice

In 2021, the continued erosion of democracy and the spread of authoritarian trends in politics in many parts of the world contributed to a backlash against women’s rights. The COVID-19 crisis has reversed some of the hard-won gender parity gains by exacerbating pre-existing inequalities and power imbalances. It has also caused a dramatic increase in sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). All these challenges have been particularly acute in conflict, fragile and crisis-affected settings.

Innovation

New ideas and new strategies are critical to building sustainable and effective development approaches that really meet people’s needs. Technologies and globalization raise new human rights concerns and threaten the rule of law. Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic continue to limit people’s access to basic services. UNDP connected expertise across the globe to learn and adapt. Creating a culture of curiosity and experimentation, these efforts ensured that local needs and expertise were combined with emerging models to bring strategic thinking to people-centred development goals.

Liberia

In Liberia, UNDP enhanced the transparency and efficiency of the justice and security sector through the establishment of the online Crime Statistics Information System (CSIS) for the Liberia National police. The system was linked to a similar Case Management Information System (CMIS) developed for the Ministry of Justice and the judiciary. The system enables the police to track crime patterns and plan effective responses. It also tracks case backlogs to analyse the reasons for prolonged pre-trial detention and supports decision-making on how to address them. Launched in 2021, the system was designed as an application for both desktop computers and mobile phones to ensure the data can be uploaded offline in areas with limited access to the internet. The system enhanced the integrity of data collection and reduced the time spent on crime analysis and preparation of statistical reports. It was piloted in Bomi, Bong, Lofa, Margibi and Montserrado counties. UNDP organized training for over a hundred staff members of justice and security institutions on the use of the system.

UNDP provided expert support to the Ministry of Justice to draft the Legal Aid Act designed to provide a comprehensive legal aid response, establish an independent Legal Aid Board and a legal aid fund. The Act was validated by the Ministry of Justice and submitted for the endorsement by the Cabinet of Ministers. When functional, the Legal Aid Board will provide legal aid to indigent Liberians and other vulnerable individuals who cannot afford access to legal practitioners.

Access to justice for women, survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) and inmates was enhanced through the provision of legal aid and psychosocial support. 624 individuals received legal and psychosocial assistance in Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Margibi, Nimba and Sinoe counties. This number includes 271 GBV survivors and 353 inmates (326 men and 27 women). 68 cases of rape were investigated and brought to courts through the UNDP-supported GBV referral system. Cases involving 353 inmates were resolved through mediation, 121 of these inmates (104 men and 17 women) received psychosocial support and assistance to reintegrate in their communities upon release.

624 persons composed of 271 GBV survivors and 353 inmates (326 men and 27 women).

Finally, 119 cases of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) were processed by the specialized SGBV Court E at Bong and Nimba counties, out of which 39 cases were resolved.

Trainers certification of training
Certification of training of trainers and the official launch of the Crime Statistics Information System by the Liberian National PolicePhoto: UNDP

Key Results: Liberia

624 individuals received legal and psychosocial assistance. This number includes 271 survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) and 353 inmates (326 men and 27 women). Cases involving 353 inmates were resolved through mediation.

106 staff members of justice and security institutions (including county attorneys, clerical staff and police officers) learned how to manage an online Crime Statistics Information System (CSIS) established for the Liberia National police

119 cases of sexual and gender-based violence (GBV) were processed by the specialized SGBV Court E at Bong and Nimba counties, with 39 cases resolved.