‘Rule of law’: UNDP launches research programme on access to justice

CJ Khan claimed that establishment of the research wing in a short time is an outcome of his team’s untiring efforts.

PESHAWAR:

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has launched a ‘rule of law’ programme in Pakistan, aiming to spread awareness among the vulnerable about their right to justice and to make the judiciary more responsive to their needs and demands.

UNDP Country Director Marc Andre Franche said research enables informed decisions, which is what institutions need most to progress. Franche made the statement after inaugurating the Research Wing at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Judicial Academy (KPJA) on Wednesday.

According to Franche, the research wing will help the UNDP develop a knowledgebase to form a foundation of national peace and progress. Promoting rule of law at national and international levels is at the heart of the United Nations’ (UN) mission, said the UNDP country director.

“Establishing respect for rule of law is fundamental to achieve durable peace in the aftermath of conflict, for the effective protection of human rights and to sustain economic progress,” he said.



Results achieved by the ‘Strengthening rule of law in Malakand’ project were encouraging, but to harness greater impact in the sector, well-focused and consolidated interventions are imperative, maintained Franche.  The UNDP will continue deeper engagement in K-P, expanding beyond Malakand into the tribal areas, he said.

During his address at the inauguration, Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice (CJ) Dost Muhammad Khan termed the research work “a must for capacity building and a strong source for obtaining knowledge.”  The CJ added that foreign countries spend millions of dollars on research but unfortunately no institutions in the country – except the KPJA – had established a research wing.

CJ Khan claimed the establishment of the research wing in a short time is an outcome of his team’s untiring efforts.

Swiss Development Corporation Country Director Andreas Huber, Saadat Ali of the Netherlands embassy, PHC Registrar Subhan Sher and KPJA Director General Hayat Ali Shah were also present.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 7^th, 2013.