Rule of Law & Security (ROLS)

UNDP’s Rule of Law and Security Programme works towards improved security and protection under the law for all Somalis. As such, it seeks to advance human development by strengthening national and local capacities to prevent, mitigate and cope with the impact of violence. Despite the resilience of local communities and businesses, the absence or weakness of the state is at the root of Somalia’s endemic conflict. Government is needed to exert enough authority for security to be maintained. Government must ultimately reconcile clan-based, political, business, and civil society forces to unite Somalis towards building peace. The collapse of those structures designed to administer justice, including law enforcement and the protection of human rights, continues to hamper progress towards the establishment of formal mechanisms for the rule of law. Given this situation, a range of non-state customary or religion-based (sharia) mechanisms are in place to deliver judicial and legal services to rural, nomadic and poor populations. The four ROLS projects provide a development approach to rule of law and security, addressing simultaneously the institutional (top down) and community (bottom up) aspects of rule of law and security: • Judiciary/access to justice — The project is not only seeking to train and build the capacity of the legal profession, it also works on providing access to justice for most vulnerable communities, especially those living in areas with no functioning state institutions. • Law enforcement — UNDP considers police work to be a service to the community. • Community safety — (DDR/AVR) —Community safety recognizes the role of communities in ensuring their wellbeing and reducing armed violence at the local level, in partnership with local authorities. • Mine action — ROLs has a safety and community perspective in mine action.