UNITED NATIONS WORKING TO ENHANCE DELIVERY OF RULE OF LAW ASSISTANCE

 

TO MEMBER STATES, DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL TELLS SIXTH COMMITTEE

 

Following is the text of remarks by UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro on the rule of law at the Sixth Committee (Legal) meeting yesterday, 13 October:

I am delighted to address, as I did last year, the Sixth Committee on the important issue of the rule of law.

First, I would like to congratulate you, Mr. Chairman, on your election.  I have full confidence that you will use your expertise to successfully lead the work of this Main Committee in a competent and result-oriented manner.  I also extend my sincerest congratulations to other members of the Bureau.

Let me draw your attention to three reports of the Secretary-General, requested by the General Assembly in last year’s resolution on the rule of law at the national and the international levels.

The first report is an inventory of United Nations rule of law activities (document A/63/64).  It includes the work of 40 entities and illustrates the depth and complexity of United Nations rule of law activities.  The report also reveals a wealth of experience and expertise in the field of rule of law within the Organization.

The second is the Secretary-General’s report on strengthening and coordinating United Nations rule of law activities (document A/63/226).  It seeks to examine the Organization’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as ways to strengthen support to Member States in this area.

The third is the financial report on the staffing and other requirements for the Rule of Law Unit (document A/63/154) that will be considered by the Fifth Committee.

I cannot overemphasize the importance of the rule of law at the international level or the critical interface between national and international order.  We need to effectively assist Member States in developing their capacities to ensure effective enforcement and enjoyment of a just national and international order.

Consequently, one of the key messages of the Secretary-General’s report on strengthening and coordination of rule of law activities is the need to ensure national ownership.  Rule of law development requires the full and meaningful participation and support of national stakeholders.  No programme can be successful in the long run if imposed from the outside and without national authorities leading the process.

The role of the United Nations is to provide the space and mobilize resources for national stakeholders to develop and implement their vision, national plans and programmes.

The report also highlights that the United Nations is currently conducting ongoing rule of law activities in over 110 countries and in all regions of the globe.  It concludes that such a robust area of engagement needs strengthened coordination in order to be more consistent and efficient.

Recent United Nations efforts to coordinate and strengthen its activities include the establishment of the Rule of Law Coordination and Resource Group, which I have the honour of chairing.

The Group was established in 2007 in response to calls made by Member States in the 2005 World Summit Document to help the UN system coordinate and plan strategically the wide array of activities in partnership with recipient countries.

The Group brings together nine leading UN departments and agencies engaged in rule of law activities.  It is supported by a small but substantive Unit.  This new arrangement has already delivered some tangible results, in addition to the substantial ongoing assistance provided by each of the departments and agencies that serve on the Group.

For example, the Group adopted a guidance note, endorsed by the Secretary-General, on the UN approach to rule of law assistance.  Its purpose is to outline overarching principles and a policy framework to guide the assistance given throughout the UN system.

Further, a guidance note on justice for children has been developed under the leadership of UNICEF, in close cooperation with the Rule of Law Unit. The note was adopted by the Group and endorsed by the Secretary-General in early September.

Moreover, leading UN departments and agencies have strengthened rule of law capacities in accordance with their respective mandates with a view to filling identified gaps.

Further reinforcements, however, will be needed for the operational entities that support rule of law work in the field.

I need to also point out that other initiatives are under way.  Nine UN entities of the Coordination and Resource Group are working, with the support of the Rule of Law Unit, to develop a joint strategic plan for the period 2009-2011.  This is a very significant step that brings together the nine leading United Nations departments and agencies engaged in rule of law activities to determine joint outcomes to which their activities can contribute.

Despite the significant advances made over the past years, more needs to be done to make United Nations rule of law assistance more coherent and effective.  The Secretary-General makes a number of recommendations with a view to improving coordination and efficiency.  I am confident his report will provide a solid background for discussions by the Sixth Committee on this agenda item.

It is evident from these reports, and our recent experience, that the role of the Rule of Law Unit is essential to support UN system efforts to enhance coordination, coherence and efficiency.  In this regard, I would like to draw your attention to the financial report on the staffing and other requirements, which the General Assembly also requested from the Secretary-General.

You may recall that the Rule of Law Unit, which supports the Coordination and Resource Group, has been running on an interim basis since the beginning of 2007. So far, it has been staffed through secondments from other departments and agencies, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations.  These arrangements, however, cannot be open-ended.

The Unit needs to be placed on a sound and sustainable financial basis in the future.  The Secretary-General’s financial report lays out the details for this basis and I strongly appeal to the Member States for their support to ensure that the Unit is fully funded from the regular budget.  This will enable it to carry out its essential functions.

The United Nations is, more than ever, committed to working towards a just, secure and peaceful world, governed by the rule of law.  To achieve this goal, it is essential for the Organization to enhance its ability to deliver adequate rule of law assistance to Member States, at their request and in accordance with their own priorities and national strategies.

I therefore appeal to Member States to support the recommendations made by the Secretary-General.  Thank you for your attention and I wish you fruitful discussions.

* *** *

For information media • not an official record