Transitional justice can contribute to atonement for past violence and human rights violations, and facilitate state accountability. UNDP supports such nationally-led processes by providing advice and training to local and national leaders to establish truth commissions, provide reparations to victims of conflict, and prosecute conflict-related crimes. UNDP also works to ensure that victims of conflict have a voice within transitional justice and political processes.

In crisis-affected contexts, UNDP supports national and local authorities to rapidly restore justice and security services for the population. At the same time, UNDP works with leaders to identify and implement measures for medium and long-term justice and security reform, which are aligned with national priorities and owned by national stakeholders. As part of this assistance, UNDP helps strengthen the knowledge and skills of judges, prosecutors, lawyers, ministries, civil society and the police. UNDP also supports legal aid providers to help people understand and access the justice system, and supports mobile courts to facilitate resolution for criminal and civil matters in a faster, more efficient manner – especially for women, displaced communities, and hard-to-reach areas.

UNDP works to reduce armed violence and increase community security in many countries. UNDP’s community security approach focuses on involving communities to identify both the causes of the insecurity they face, as well as possible solutions to improve their safety. This is often linked with measures to curb the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. UNDP also works to ensure that the security actors in crisis-affected situations are professional, accountable, and aware of human rights, especially to protect the most vulnerable. This work can include strengthening civilian oversight of security services and training and equipping police.

UNDP prioritizes protection from and response to sexual and gender-based violence as an essential pillar of establishing security in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 1888. UNDP provides support to protect and empower women in crisis-affected contexts through improved justice and security service delivery; tackling impunity for sexual and gender-based violence; increasing women’s participation and leadership in justice and security institutions; engaging at the community level to raise awareness and increase prevention activities; and assists development of policy and legal frameworks that are inclusive and protective of women. UNDP recognizes the need for men to be partners in tackling sexual and gender-based violence, and engages in mobilizing men to advocate against and tackle the prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence.