ISLAMABAD: The European Union (EU) and its partners launched on Friday a €20 million programme that aims to promote the rule of law and enhance the criminal justice system in Pakistan, with a specific focus on areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan.

The vision behind the five-year programme (2021-2025) is addressing critical and systematic weaknesses in the justice system and reforming it.

Jointly implemented by UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the programme aims to support reform processes to ensure delivery of people-centred justice, enhance access to justice for all particularly women, the less privileged and marginalised groups.

Special focus to be given to areas in KP, Balochistan

The project will focus on providing access to justice through free legal aid and alternative dispute resolution as well as legal literacy for citizens. On the institutional side, the project will assist in upgrading facilities and processes to enhance citizen-friendly service delivery.

The programme was launched at a ceremony held in Islamabad on Friday with Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed as the chief guest. Head of the three implementing agencies of United Nations and EU Ambassador Androulla Kaminara were also present.

Chief Justice Ahmed thanked the EU and UN agencies for their support and expressed his confidence in the programme. “I am certain that together, we will be able to enhance access to justice for all, particularly women, less privileged and marginalised groups and improve service delivery.

“The government of Pakistan will extend all its support to the programme, enabling it to achieve its goal,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms Kaminara said: “Inclusive access to justice for all is an important pre-requisite for a peaceful and just society. Today’s programme builds on the long-term commitment of the EU to improving the rule of law and access to justice for all in Pakistan.”

The new programme is part of priorities of the EU-Pakistan Strategic Engagement Plan 2019, financed under the EU Multi-Annual Indicative Programme 2014-2020. Both strategic documents support implementation of Vision 2025 in rural development, education, good governance, human rights, and rule of law.

KP Finance Minister Taimur Saleem Khan Jhagra said implementation of this programme is a significant opportunity to address various challenges faced by the province in securing citizen’s rights and providing them access to justice. “The KP government has prioritised access to justice and strongly believes in the principle of ‘Leave No One Behind’ in our development agenda as well,” he said.

UNDP Resident Representative Knut Ostby expressing pleasure said that Pakistan has made impressive progress on the path towards separation of judiciary from the executive, which is an end to itself and a means towards strong rule of law in a country.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2021