As global tensions are rising and civic space is shrinking, the foundations of justice, peace, and human rights are under strain. Against this backdrop, UNDP convened partners from around the world to define best pathways to improve security, bring justice to people and uphold human rights.
"We are working harder than ever to support our partners to lead efforts to strengthen the rule of law and uphold human rights. In 2024, we delivered results in over 100 countries and territories. Nearly half of our spending went to fragile and conflict-affected settings, thanks to the support of our partners and our universal presence," said Mr. Haoliang Xu, UNDP Under Secretary-General and Associate Administrator.
High-level state officials from Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, Malawi, Morocco and the Philippines shared their vision and the progress achieved with UNDP support - from advancing justice reforms and empowering national human rights institutions to rebuilding trust in the police and promoting responsible business practices. National partners are UNDP's key allies in enabling change on the ground. UNDP works hand in hand with governments and civil society to support and sustain reforms that pave the way for a more just, secure and prosperous future.
Throughout the meeting, partners reaffirmed the importance of inclusion, national ownership, and delivering justice where it matters most: in people's daily lives. Justice must be more than a principle, but a lived experience: transparent, accessible and effective. Data and evidence are essential, so is listening to people's realities.
The private sector has a vital role to play in achieving greater prosperity and stability. Responsible businesses practices and investment decisions that respect human rights and embed conflict sensitivity reduce risks and create value for societies, contributing to long-term development. Representatives of large multi national enterprises and investment funds which spoke at the meeting shared unequivocal messages on the fact that marrying business and human rights is both the right and the wise thing to do.
As the meeting concluded, one message stood out clearly: all development must be grounded in human rights values and principles. From the very beginning, every intervention should aim to deliver tangible improvements in people's lives. Through its Human Rights-Based Approach Toolkit, UNDP offers a a practical guide for using human rights to solve problems, anticipate risks and build resilience.
The Global Programme for Strengthening the Rule of Law, Human Rights, Justice and Security for Sustainable Peace and Development is UNDP's main vehicle for rule of law and human rights programming. UNDP expresses deep gratitude to the governments whose support makes this work possible: Germany, Iceland, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom.
