Strengthening the Rule of Law in Crisis-Affected and Fragile Situations: Global Programme Annual Report 2012

UNDP has also continued to expand its contributions to the international dialogue on the rule of law. In particular, the ongoing global consultations on the Post-2015 Development Agenda have afforded UNDP the opportunity to foster discussion on the prevention of armed violence and the link between violence and human develop- ment. A key priority for UNDP in the coming year will be to support the development of concrete options to integrate rule of law and violence reduction in the Post-2015 Development Agenda, including through measurements that will enable us to capture real impact on people, perceptions, and the performance of institutions.
As we continue to deepen our efforts through the Global Programme, we are mindful of what makes our work possible. Our efforts to ensure justice and security for people in crisis-affected and fragile situations rest on the foundation of our enduring and expanding partnerships.
UNDP believes that supporting states and societies to establish the rule of law is not limited to a purely technical effort to build institutions and to improve the skills, competence and expertise of state actors. It often requires a change in political culture and a clear signal that the rule of law is embedded in the values of government officials, parliamentarians and politicians – and in fact the entire society. An active civil society, vocal on rights and accountability, is both evidence of respect for the rule of law and a driver of positive change. And fundamental for this change to occur is the need to deliver on the promise to ensure that women are empowered and that they realize their rights and assume positions of responsibility.