In the Declaration of the High-level meeting on the Rule of Law, Heads of States and governments emphasized the right of equal access to justice for all, reaffirming their commitment to ensure fair, transparent, affective, non-discriminatory and accountable justice services to leave no one behind. In vulnerable scenarios, the absence of access to justice results in people unable to have their voice heard, exercise their rights, challenge discrimination or held decision makers accountable. As such, the lack of good governance wear thins institutions and central authority, opening local government to corruption and the influence of non-state actors.

     In strengthening access to justice and good governance, the UN system works with national partners to develop national strategic plans and programmes for justice reform and service delivery.  UN entities support Member States in strengthening justice in areas including: monitoring and evaluation; empowering the poor and marginalized to seek response and remedies for injustice; improving legal protection, legal awareness, and legal aid; civil society and parliamentary oversight; addressing challenges in the justice sector such as police brutality, inhumane prison conditions, lengthy pre-trial detention, and impunity for perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence and other serious conflict-related crimes; and strengthening linkages between formal and informal structures.

  At the national level, the United Nations supports the rule of law for justice on a vast array of judicial, operational and political procedures providing guidance and flagship mechanism for responsive and responsible policies. These activities aim to promote universal access to justice, especially for minorities and marginalized groups, strengthen the civil and criminal justice, reform the judicial sector and convey formal and informal justice.                   

At the international level, the UN system supports the Rule of Law for justice via different international bodies, showing the commitment of member states in settling international disputes by peaceful means, inter alia through negotiation, enquiries, good office and arbitration.  To promote and restore peace and justice, and prevent the outbreak and recurrence of violence, the United Nations established different international authorities to foster reconciliation between States and Non- State Actors via non-violent means.

In addition, emphasis is given to informal mechanisms as tools to deliver justice in rural and urban areas. As described in the Declaration of the High-Level meeting on the Rule of Law, these mechanisms “when in accordance with international human rights law, play a positive role in dispute resolution, and that everyone, particularly women and those belonging to vulnerable groups, should enjoy full and equal access to these justice mechanisms.”

 

Governance
When the rule of law crumbles, justice and peace slowly disappear, and governance become weak, exposing local authorities and institutions to corruption. In this scenario, the cost of inactions increasingly affects the population, illicit organizations prosper across borders and within nations, with emerging transnational threats feeding on grievances to strengthen their influence.

To achieve sustainable peace and development, the UN System supports the rule of law in building good and strong governance in warn torn and fragile countries, focusing on building effective, accountable and transparent institutions and strengthen the collaboration between central authorities, local government and other subnational authorities.

  • Implementation of good practices for accountability and transparency of government’s institutions
  • Constrain of government’s power and creation of a culture of respect for human rights at all levels
  • Restructuring and reforming the judicial, security and political sector with respect of international law
  • Promote accessibility and equality in the judicial sector and political engagement among marginalize groups
  • Creation of responsive and responsible institution and policies to enhance a fair and open political environment
  • Support to local authorities in the constitution making process via specialized advisors and the Constitution Makers Assistance Resource Center
  • Creation of mechanisms for national, regional and international cooperation
  • Implementation of specific conventions, as the UN Convention Against Corruption and specialized programs as the UNODC’s Action Against Corruption and Economic Crime

In the Declaration of the High-level Meeting on the Rule of Law, Heads of States and governments emphasized the right of equal access to justice for all, reaffirming their commitment to ensure fair, transparent, effective, non-discriminatory and accountable justice services to leave no one behind.

To achieve sustainable peace and development, the UN System supports the rule of law in building good and strong governance in war torn and fragile countries, focusing on building effective, accountable and transparent institutions and strengthening the collaboration between central authorities, local government and other sub-national authorities.

In strengthening access to justice and good governance, the UN system works with national partners to develop national strategic plans and programmes for justice reform and service delivery.  UN entities support Member States in strengthening justice by empowering the poor and marginalized to seek response and remedies for injustice; improving legal protection, legal awareness, and legal aid; civil society and parliamentary oversight; addressing challenges in the justice sector such as inhumane prison conditions, lengthy pre-trial detention, and impunity for perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence and other serious conflict-related crimes; and strengthening linkages between formal and informal structures.

The justice components of peace operations help to lay the foundations for the longer-term strengthening and reform of rule of law institutions requires strong partnerships with national authorities, development actors and civil society who will continue the work after the end of the mission because a secure environment instills public confidence in the peace process, and is also conducive to longer-term development efforts.

They help to:

  • Deliver Basic Justice Services

  • Assist nationally-led investigations and prosecutions of atrocity crimes and crimes that fuel conflict

  • Support the resolution of disputes over land and other resources that drive conflict

  • Reduce the level of prolonged and arbitrary detentions;

  • Enhance the professionalism and accountability of judicial staff and systems

  • Develop and implement national justice reform strategies

  • Strengthen the legislative and regulatory framework

In addition, support is provided to informal mechanisms as tools to deliver justice in rural and urban areas. As described in the Declaration of the High-Level meeting on the Rule of Law, these mechanisms:

“when in accordance with international human rights law, play a positive role in dispute resolution, and that everyone, particularly women and those belonging to vulnerable groups, should enjoy full and equal access to these justice mechanisms.”