A/HRC/22/32
developed, including reintegration support services for juvenile offenders and a restorative
justice centre. In Bangladesh, UNICEF supported the launching of a pilot “diversion”
initiative in one district, establishing a coordination mechanism between the police,
judiciary, probation officers, lawyers and local elected bodies to prevent unnecessary
placement of children in institutions and therefore channel children in conflict with the law
away from judicial proceeding.
34.
The capacities of law enforcement and the justice sector were improved in a number
of countries as a result of UNICEF work. For example, in Honduras, over 350 staff were
trained in the prevention, investigation and protection of the rights of child victims of
abuse, sexual exploitation and trafficking. In Uruguay, UNICEF supported the Public
Prosecutor’s Office in implementing a course on sexual abuse. More countries are also
investing in comprehensive support services for children who have experienced sexual
violence, including health, legal, protective and counseling services. For example, in
Zimbabwe, UNICEF contributed to a review of the protocol on multisectoral management
of child sexual abuse. In Argentina, intersectoral coordination to address cases of child
sexual abuse has improved through the development of integrated protocols for care. In
Chile, a clinical guide to care for child victims of sexual abuse younger than age 15 has
been developed by the Ministry of Health, with subsequent training for professionals.
G.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
35.
Rule of law, access to justice and legal empowerment of the poor are at the core of
the UNDP contribution to sustainable human development. UNDP supports rule of law in
over 100 countries that are stable, experiencing political transition or conflict-affected
contexts. In line with its mandate, UNDP focuses on improving access to justice for the
poor and marginalized, with a particular focus on women, involving support to the legal
empowerment of the poor; improving access to justice through informal, non-State and
customary justice systems, and legal aid and other justice services.
36.
UNDP supports capacity-strengthening of the formal justice system with the aim of
improving efficiency, transparency, accountability and accessibility in the civil and
criminal justice systems. Support includes improving court administration and management
through improved case management, capacity development of justice actors and
strengthening systems of oversight and integrity, coordinated support to justice sector
through sector wide strategies, support to police and prisons and criminal justice
functioning, juvenile justice administration, civil matters related to land, property,
inheritance, family and other matters, and citizen security and violence reduction.
37.
For instance, in Swaziland, UNDP is currently supporting the High Court in
installation of a case management system for efficient management of their service and
access to justice. In Malawi, UNDP is engaged in the development of a sector-wide
approach to democratic governance, which includes rule of law and access to justice,
established in 2009/2010, and the Sector Strategic Plan for 2012–2016. UNDP has
longstanding rule of law programming in Bangladesh, where from 2005 until today it, inter
alia, has led on community policing and police reform. Another country with a
comprehensive approach is Indonesia, where UNDP has been engaged since 2004 in
strengthening rights-based legal and justice sector reform.
38.
With over 80 per cent of disputes resolved through informal justice systems,
improving access to justice for the poor requires recognition of the important role of
traditional or informal justice systems in delivering affordable, accessible and culturally
relevant justice to communities. At the country level in these areas, UNDP supported
assessments, studies; convened dialogue processes aimed at catalysing policy and legal
reform, evidence-based programming and capacity development and supported South-
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