Rule of Law, Human Rights, Justice and Security for Sustainable Peace and Development

Rule of Law, Human Rights and Security

Our work in Geneva and beyond


The Rule of Law, Human Rights and Security (ROLSHR) team based in Geneva is a satellite unit for UNDP’s Global Programme for Strengthening the Rule of Law, Human Rights, Justice, and Security for Sustainable Peace and Development. In addition, the Global Advisor on Business and Human Rights is stationed in Geneva leading the Business and Human Rights Portfolio in 28 countries across 5 continents. The team in Geneva act as representative focal points with Human Rights Institutions and organizations based in Geneva, such as GAHNRI, National Human Rights Institutions, and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The team also has a role to shape relevancy and integration across UNDP bureaus and Country Offices under the umbrella of the global ROLSHR programme for the international Geneva Community and human rights, security and rule of law actors.  

UNDP Geneva’s work in human rights includes participation in the Human Rights Council, Universal Periodic Review, Member State consultations, and high-level engagements where expertise, knowledge and advocacy are pushed to embed human rights principles and to ensure no one is left behind.  

The ROLSHR programme findings and cases studies are synthesized in UNDP’s global commitment to strengthen public institutions, duty-bearers to fulfil human right obligations, access to justice, legislation, transitional justice and security reform to build towards sustainable peace.  

Find out below some of our work in Geneva  

 

Find out more about the ROLHRs global programme

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Right to a clean environment is a human right

For people for planet

Environmental Justice

Addressing environmental injustice requires a human-rights based, multi-disciplinary approach that addresses immediate environmental justice needs and tackles the structural inequalities that cause and perpetuate environmental injustice.  

The world is facing a triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity and ecosystem loss, and pollution. These crises undermine the enjoyment and protection of human rights and exacerbate environmental injustices, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable, marginalized and excluded people and communities. Today’s environmental crisis is intertwined with the crisis of inequality and is inextricably linked to the protection and fulfilment of human rights and sustainable development.

The human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment was recently recognized by the UN General Assembly (2022) and the UN Human Rights Council (2021).  This recognition empowers all people with a critical tool to hold their governments, big polluters and all those responsible for environmental harm to account. UNDP is committed to supporting Member States realize the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment as well as strengthening protections for environmental human rights defenders that face reprisals for standing up for our rights and our planet.  

UNDP has developed a global strategy for environmental justice that seeks to increase accountability and protection of ‘environmental rights’ for current and future generations; and promote the environmental rule of law. These objectives are pursued through a three-pronged approach:  

i) building, enforcing and implementing enabling legal and policy frameworks;  

ii) supporting people-centred, effective justice and human rights institutions as key agents of enforcement and implementation of these frameworks; and  

iii) legal empowerment and access to justice on environmental matters.  

Environmental justice requires a rights-based, multidisciplinary approach, that combines the collective expertise and perspectives of human rights, rule of law, justice and security, environment, and other development practitioners. Through our support to pilot initiatives, knowledge brokerage and policy influence, and strategic partnerships across UNDP and the broader UN family, the Justice Futures CoLab is committed to advancing the right to a healthy environment and tackling environmental injustices.   

What is the Right to a Healthy Environment?

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Business and Human Rights

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UNDP’s global engagement on Business and Human Rights is coordinated from Geneva, led by the Global Adviser on Business and Human Rights. UNDP works with governments, businesses, civil society, human rights defenders, academia and others to implement the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and advance responsible business practices throughout global supply chains. The business and human rights team in Geneva coordinate and support global and regional business and human rights programming across 28 countries, and engage directly with key business and human rights actors based in Geneva, including OHCHR, the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, ILO, the International Organization of Employers (IOE). The business and human rights team actively participates in the UN Annual Forum on Buisness and Human Rights, including by leading regional and thematic sessions during the Forum. UNDP’s work on Business and Human Rights (B+HR) is currently supported by the Governments of Sweden, Japan, the European Union, and Switzerland and is part of a wider effort to promote justice and human rights through the Global Programme for Strengthening the Rule of Law, Human Rights, Justice and Security for Sustainable Peace and Development, Phase IV.