Deputy UN chief spotlights rule of law as essential to peace and development

The Deputy Secretary-General today highlighted the need for measures that enhance the rule of law in conflict and post-conflict situations, stressing that more coordination at national and local levels is needed among United Nations entities to effectively support countries on this issue.

“Delivering justice and security through the rule of law mitigates conflict and helps reduce the risk of relapse into further conflict,” Jan Eliasson told the Security Council during a meeting on the Effectiveness of the UN System’s Support to the Promotion of the Rule of Law in Conflict and Post-Conflict Situations.

Mr. Eliasson said that following the General Assembly’s first High-level Meeting on the Rule of Law last September, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had decided to realign the UN’s response to address challenges regarding the rule of law at various levels.

At the field level, Mr. Ban enhanced field leadership, making them responsible and accountable for guiding UN rule of law strategies, addressing local challenges, and coordinating UN country support on the rule of law.

At UN Headquarters in New York, Mr. Ban designated the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) as the joint Global Focal Point dealing with police, justice and corrections issues in post-conflict and other crisis situations.

“The aim is to link all relevant United Nations entities and coordinate our support to the field,” Mr. Eliasson said, adding that the world body plans later this year to assess the impact of the new institutional arrangements, and called on countries to assist in this process by facilitating data collection.

“I encourage Governments to make pledges to support these data collection efforts in conflict and post-conflict States,” he said. “Better data will help us better plan and better prioritize, so that we can optimize resources, carry out more accurate assessments and mitigate risks.”