Rule of Law and Accountability

Governance systems, in which all stakeholders, public and private, are accountable to laws that are publicly promulgated, equally enforced, independently adjudicated, and consistent with international human rights norms and standards, are crucial for sustaining peace and the achievement of inclusive development. Lack of the rule of law and accountability for human rights violations leads to failures of justice and impunity for crimes, conflict over unaddressed grievances, and oppressive, unaccountable rule.

As everywhere, South-East Asia faces challenges in meeting these standards. These include gaps in access to justice, the justiciability of economic, social and cultural rights, opaque and non-participatory public decision-making processes, corruption as well as policies and actions of some States to combat insecurity or terrorism that violate human rights.

In particular, the Regional Office for South-East Asia works closely with partners to strengthen the rule of law and accountability for human rights violations in the context of law enforcement and justice systems, assists in creating conditions in which people can meaningfully shape or challenge policy decisions that affect their lives and works within the UN system to ensure that its commitments to secure accountability and strengthen the rule of law are properly coordinated and supported.