 |
| |
| Fast Facts: |
| Project
document and reports available
upon request |
| Location: |
Abyei,
Blue Nile State, and South Kordofan
State |
| Duration: |
1
June 2006 - March 2009 |
| Focus
area: |
Democratic
Governance |
| Donors: |
The
Netherlands, The Danish International
Development Agency, The Department
of Foreign Affairs and International
Trade, and US Agency for International
Development-Office of Transition
Initiatives. |
| Total
Funds Available: |
US$
4,618,800.00 |
| Partners: |
International
Rescue Committee
United Nations Mission in Sudan
Police
United Nation Mission in Sudan
Correctional Services
Penal Reform International
PLACE –
Justice and Confidence Centers
|
| Delivery
for 2007:
|
US
$ 1,757,035.63 |
| Contact
person in UNDP: |
Massimo
Diana, Head of Unit,
massimo.diana@undp.org
|
|
Background
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA)
provides the overall framework for post
conflict recovery and the restoration
of peace and stability in Sudan. Under
the CPA, Abyei, Blue Nile State, and
South Kordofan State/Nuba Mountains
were given the special status of so-called
“Protocol Areas,” with power
being shared along predetermined lines.
Having been especially hard hit by
Sudan’s decades of warfare,
Abyei Area, Blue Nile State, and South
Kordofan State face unique challenges
on the road to peace and recovery.
These three areas are facing an influx
of returning Internally Displaced
Persons (IDPs), despite the widespread
poverty, insecurity, and lack of infrastructure
that exists in these regions. The
judiciary and security sectors in
these areas remain particularly under-developed
and are characterized by poor infrastructure,
limited operational capacity, and
a weak knowledge base.
Recognizing that inequity, conflicts,
lack of development, and a weak system
of governance are factors that erode
human security and the rule of law,
UNDP’s interventions seek to
strengthen relevant rule of law institutions
to deliver services, problem solve
and function efficiently while also
empowering communities to understand
their rights in order to make informed
choices and enhancing their ability
to access justice for themselves.
With the support of the Netherlands
Government, the Danish International
Development Agency, the Department
of Foreign Affairs and International
Trade and US Agency for International
Development – Office of Transition
Initiatives, in 2005 UNDP launched
the first phase of a large Rule of
Law programme. The second phase is
being implemented through the Strengthening
Access to Justice and Human Security
in the Three Protocol Areas project.
Objectives
The project seeks to address the threats
to human security and the tensions expected
to emerge with the large-scale return
of IDPs to and through the Three Protocol
Areas; to build the capacity of state
rule of law institutions to provide
access to justice for receiving/host
communities, the displaced, returnees
and marginalized groups; and to empower
communities to access justice, resolve
conflict through customary mechanisms
and enjoy protection by the state.
The project’s specific objectives
include:
• Enhancing people's awareness
of their rights according to national
and international law.
• Ensuring that people have
access to an operational legal aid
system.
• Enhancing the judiciary's
capacity.
• Enhancing the capacity of
the rural courts and the traditional
leaders.
• Enhancing the capacity of
law-enforcement institutions through
training.
• Establishing community policing
structures and procedures.
• Sustaining local ownership
and support to rule of law activities.
Snapshots of the project's major achievements
• Supported the training of 248
people (traditional leaders and local
communities) in human rights awareness
covering the three Protocol Areas
In Abyei:
• Conducted 6 awareness raising
workshops for community members in Abyei
and Agok, and brought together community
leaders; the police; representatives
of community-based organizations, teachers,
youth and women leaders, international
Non-Governmental Organizations and other
UN Agencies.
• Established the Abyei Human
Rights Group (AHRG). To strengthen the
group, UNDP provided six-hour weekly
training sessions in Human Rights and
Rule of Law concepts for the 59 members
of the group (33 men and 26 women).
• From October 2006, AHRG conducted
over 10 activities on the promotion
of human rights in the villages around
Abyei and Agok, reaching over 800 people.
• Started the construction of
the Abyei Justice and Confidence Centre
(JCC) that will provide the training
facilities in Abyei, as well as host
a Legal Information Centre for the benefit
of paralegals and other community members.
• Commissioned a study on “The
Traditional Systems of Justice and Peace
in Abyei” on how best to revitalize
traditional justice institutions, and
to review the customary laws applicable
in the area.
• Constructed and furnished a
Traditional Chief’s Court in Abyei
town. The furniture was an in-kind donation
from USAID-OTI.
• In partnership with the UN Mission
Police, the project developed a comprehensive
six-month training programme for the
local police, and supported the training
of 112 police officers (102 men and
10 women) of different ranks in various
aspects of policing.
• Provided furniture and stationery
to support community policing and other
police activities in Abyei and Agok.
• Completed the construction and
furnishing of a new police station in
Abyei town.
• Shared in the rehabilitation
cost of the holding cells at the Abyei
Police Station.
• Established a Local Steering
Committee (LCS) to promote community
participation, ownership and project
sustainability.
In the Blue Nile State:
• Established the Justice
and Confidence Centre in August 2006.
With 37 paralegal staff, the Centre
is currently registered as an NGO, providing
pro bono legal aid, conducting paralegal
training and hosting awareness forums.
Over 3,500 people across Blue Nile state
have benefited from the services offered
by the JCC.
• Developed a training curriculum
for paralegals in Blue Nile.
• Conducted an assessment of the
traditional/local administration and
application of customary law in Blue
Nile between June and July 2007.
•Trained 52 community volunteers
at the JCC on human rights principles.
•Provided probono legal services
with upto 350 cases refferred to JCC
and resolved.
•Conducted an assessment on the
native administration and application
of customary law in Blue Nile between
June and July 2007.
•Trained senior Police Officers
and community leaders on aspects of
community policing.
• Trained 35 community members
in various aspects of police functions,
human rights, and social policing.
• Trained 20 Prison Officers on
principles of Good Prison Management.
• Rehabilitated the Railway Police
Station Training Hall in Damazin.
• Gained approval from the State
Governor for the formation of the Local
Steering Committee.
. • Trained over 400 Police Officers
of various ranks in all the counties
in Blue Nile State. The topics include
Police Station Functions, Record Keeping,
Gender and Child Protection, Human Rights,
Democratic Policing and Principles of
Good Governance.
• Pioneered safety monitors training
as a community policing pilot project
in Kurmuk.
• 270 (judges, police, law professional,
traditional leaders and paralegals)
justice personnel received training
towards capacity development in human
rights principles and core rule of law
in South Kordofan and Blue Nile.
In South Kordofan State:
• Provided technical advice and
shared experience in support of the
development of the South Kordofan State
Judiciary.
• Established three Justice and
Confidence Centres in Kadugli, Lagawa
and Dilling localities to provide pro
bono legal aid to vulnerable communities.
• Referred 61 legal cases to JCCs
with 39 resolved and 22 still being
processed.
• Trained 65 paralegals to provide
legal aid and conflict resolution assistance
to the local communities.
• Established 5 community policing
centres which are currently operational.
• Trained 35 police officers in
basic investigation and human rights.
• Trained 14 prison guards in
prison management.
• Organized 13 human rights and
gender awareness workshops.
• 15 cases brought to and addressed
by legal aid centers in South Kordofan.
|
