The hallmarks of respect for the rule of law include separation of powers of the executive, legislature, and judiciary; regular, free, and fair elections; an independent and impartial judiciary; free and independent media institutions; and equality of the people before the law.
This result area’s overall objective is to support applicable justice institutions and empower the public to contribute to reform and actualisation of regulatory frameworks and ensure transparent, responsive, and accountable justice institutions. The result area’s focus includes supporting drafting and implementing good constitutions, reforming laws, justice, and security systems, empowering citizens to engage with such processes.
The detailed expected outcomes and strategic interventions under the result area are presented under the sub-themes below:
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[powerkit_collapsible title=”Constitutional Reforms and Implementation”]
This sub theme’s main aim will be to offer support towards applicable constitutional, legal, policy, and institutional reforms.
Expected Outcomes
- Reformed legal, policy, and institutional frameworks, ensuring these are gender-responsive.
- Strengthened protection of civil-political and socio-economic rights.
Strategic Interventions
- Support safeguards, reforms, and adherence to progressive constitutional, legal, policy & institutional frameworks.
- Strengthen electoral management bodies, electoral processes, and electoral dispute resolution mechanisms.
- Conduct periodic research on emerging constitutional issues to inform thinking and practice.
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[powerkit_collapsible title=”Judicial Strengthening and Reforms”]
This sub-theme aims to strengthen the capacity, integrity, and accountability of justice sector institutions for expanded access to justice and redress. This seeks to, amongst others, enhance the efficiency, transparency, and accountability of justice systems.
Expected Outcomes
- The capacity of justice sector institutions to perform core functions strengthened.
- Increased effectiveness, independence, accountability, and goodwill towards judicial institutions.
Strategic Interventions
- Promote adherence to applicable standards/ best practices for judicial independence, transparency, integrity, and resourcing.
- Support establishment, strengthening, or expansion of justice institutions and actors.
- Strengthen the role of civil society and the public towards justice sector reforms, access to legal aid/ paralegal support, etc.
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[powerkit_collapsible title=”Security Sector Strengthening and Reforms”]
This sub-theme seeks to contribute to enhancing the capacity and accountability of security sector institutions. The expected outcomes and interventions will be as follows:
Expected Outcomes
- Increased accountability and adherence to international human rights standards and practices.
- Enhanced work-related behavior of target security sector actors.
Strategic Interventions
- Support development, reform, and or implementation of security sector laws and policies.
- Strengthen security sector agencies, institutions, and supporting structures (eg, police reform working groups).
- Empower the citizenry on their mandate towards the realisation of an accountable security sector.
- Undertake research and policy analysis on emerging critical security sector issues
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[powerkit_collapsible title=”Criminal Justice”]
This sub-area seeks to contribute to the promotion of respect for human rights within the criminal justice system.
Expected Outcomes
- Petty offenses decriminalised and or re-classified in focus countries
- Strengthened criminal justice institutions adequately respond to the needs of the poor and vulnerable in society.
Strategic Interventions
- Provide technical support/ advice to stakeholders working on decriminalisation of petty offenses
- Support structured reviews and reforms of criminal justice systems & institutions (including enactment, interpretation, and enforcement by AU member States of the Principles of Decriminalisation of Petty Offences as adopted by the ACHPR).
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