Deputy Secretary-General, in remarks to meeting with assistance providers,

calls for nationally-driven approaches to rule of law

 

Following is the text of UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro’s remarks at the round-table discussion on cooperation between the United Nations and rule of law assistance providers, as delivered in New York, yesterday, 13 November:

Welcome to this round table organized by the Rule of Law Unit of my office.  Let me first thank most heartedly the Permanent Mission of Germany for hosting today’s discussions on cooperation between the United Nations and rule of law assistance providers.

Please convey thanks to His Excellency.

Let me also express my appreciation to you, particularly to those of you who have travelled overseas to participate in this day of discussions.  This is the first time that the United Nations system has engaged in a collective dialogue on rule of law assistance with the range of assistance providers represented here today.

For the United Nations, the rule of law refers to a principle of governance in which all persons, institutions and entities, public and private -- including the State itself -- are accountable to laws that are publicly promulgated, equally enforced and independently adjudicated, and which are consistent with international human rights norms and standards.  It is fundamental to achieving long-lasting peace and security, effective protection of human rights, economic progress and sustainable development.

A multitude of United Nations entities address the rule of law at the international and national levels, based on a variety of mandates and expertise.  Many of these, such as the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the Office of Drugs and Crime, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the United Nations Development Programme and Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, are represented here today.  Our technical assistance capacity is vast -- covering advice on anti-corruption to access to justice for the poor -- and we are called upon to provide assistance in all circumstances, from conflict to long-term development.

As the United Nations we bring to the table the substantial body of international human rights, criminal justice, refugee and humanitarian norms and standards developed under the Organization’s auspices.  This body of doctrine is one of the United Nations’ greatest achievements and it forms the normative basis for our rule of law work.

Yet despite our strengths, we have struggled to ensure strategic coherence and coordination in our engagement in rule of law.  It is for this reason that the Secretary-General established the Rule of Law Coordination and Resource Group, which I chair, and the Rule of Law Unit.  The Unit supports the Group in system-wide coordination, guidance and development of best practices, and fostering effective partnerships with external actors.  With these new arrangements, we have set off firmly down a path towards shared strategic and policy direction, coordination and quality-control.

The United Nations is but one actor in the rule of law field.  Our experience over the past 15 years illustrates that a lack of strategic planning and coordination among all rule of law players can produce duplication, and wasted effort and money.  Assistance has sometimes been piecemeal and incongruous.  In some instances it has been donor-driven and not in line with national priorities.  We need to move towards approaches that are nationally-driven so as to achieve sustainable results.  We -- the rule of law community -- can and must do more in the face of high expectations.

The success of the United Nations in the promotion of rule of law is linked to the extent of our partnerships and our support for national ownership.  We have worked with each of your organizations at the global or field level, and know you share a commitment to improving rule of law assistance.  To this end, you will be identifying key lessons learned and current challenges, exploring commonalities among approaches and modalities for cooperation, and discussing a way forward today.

This is just the first in a series of consultations the United Nations plans to have with rule of law stakeholders, including bilateral donors and assistance providers, research institutes and academics, and recipient Member States.  For your participation in this initial consultation and your dedication to the rule of law field, I am grateful.  And I wish you a fruitful, frank and dynamic exchange.

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For information media • not an official record