Islamabad (GNP): The European Union (EU) Delegation to Pakistan, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have signed an agreement for a four-year, EUR 10 million programme, funded by the EU, to strengthen the rule of law and widen access to justice in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Building on earlier EU support to Pakistan’s justice sector, the initiative combines the complementary expertise of UNDP and UNODC. Working with provincial institutions, it will make justice and security services easier to reach, especially for women and vulnerable groups in both provinces.
The programme covers the whole justice chain, from law enforcement and prosecution to courts, prisons and mediation centres. It will focus on accountability, alternative dispute resolution and institutional capacity, with the aim of removing barriers to civil and criminal justice. It is expected to contribute to stability, resilience and human development while advancing gender equality, human rights and the protection of vulnerable people.
It will promote rights-based service delivery, stronger institutional ownership and lasting reforms in line with the Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rule of Law Roadmaps.
Jeroen Willems, Head of Partnerships at the EU Delegation to Pakistan, said access to justice is fundamental to protecting rights and that past EU investments have had real impact. Over the next four years, he said, the programme will help the most vulnerable reach the police, prosecution, courts and legal aid, and the EU is pleased to partner with UNDP and UNODC as implementers.
Dr. Samuel Rizk, UNDP Pakistan’s Resident Representative, said development is not possible without justice. When people trust the law to protect their rights, settle disputes and provide remedies, he explained, they can build livelihoods, businesses and futures. The three partners, he said, are joining forces to turn that trust into more accessible and responsive justice services.
Troels Vester, UNODC’s Representative in Pakistan, said his office will work with UNDP and build on its long-standing partnerships with the Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments, so that over the four years people feel the benefit of the work through services that are more accessible, accountable and responsive.
Also read: Russian Interior Minister Meets CDF, Stress Security Cooperation
The programme belongs to a EUR 65 million cooperation package between the EU and the Government of Pakistan. It falls under the EU’s Support to the Rule of Law and Business Environment in Pakistan initiative, one of three programmes launched through the package.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
