UNDP’s people-centred justice approach marks a fundamental shift in how justice and security systems are conceived and delivered. Rooted in people’s lived experiences, it emphasizes listening to communities, understanding barriers, and co-creating solutions that ensure trust, safety, fairness, and inclusion. This approach seeks to design justice systems that are not only accessible but also meaningful and effective for all, especially those most vulnerable or marginalized.
To strengthen its global support for inclusive justice, UNDP has introduced a new Programming Guide on People-Centred Justice and Security. This guide serves as both a strategic roadmap and practical toolkit to help UNDP Country Offices collaborate with national partners in delivering justice for all. It builds on UNDP’s Policy Framework on People-Centred Justice and Security and aligns with the organization’s Strategic Plan 2026–2029. According to UNDP’s Global Lead Revai Makanje-Aalbaek, accessible and accountable justice systems foster community trust, empower citizens, and drive sustainable development.
Practical results from countries such as Sierra Leone, Kenya, and Colombia demonstrate how this approach translates into real impact. In Sierra Leone, mobile legal clinics and community paralegals are bringing justice closer to rural populations—helping over 2,000 people, including 900 women, resolve disputes affordably within their communities. These paralegals assist with land ownership cases and family disputes, making justice more approachable and efficient.
In Kenya, Small Claims Courts have revolutionized access to justice for small-scale commercial disputes by offering quick resolutions within 60 days. Digitization and the introduction of a mobile app now allow users, particularly women entrepreneurs, to attend hearings and track cases without leaving their businesses. This innovation has made justice more inclusive, efficient, and economically empowering.
In Colombia, UNDP and its partners are centering victims’ voices in the peace process through creative and participatory justice initiatives. By merging legal empowerment with art and cultural expression, communities can voice their experiences and transform them into tools for advocacy, healing, and reconciliation.
The Netherlands has played a key role in championing this global movement for people-centred justice. Valentijn Wortelboer of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that operationalizing this approach ensures justice institutions deliver tangible improvements to people’s lives and livelihoods—making justice a living, everyday reality.
As part of its long-term vision, UNDP views people-centred justice as a catalyst for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. By rebuilding social trust, preventing conflict, and promoting inclusion, it becomes a cornerstone of peace and prosperity. The launch of the new programming guide also marked the inaugural event of UNDP’s Justice Futures CoLab in The Hague, reinforcing its commitment to advancing innovation and collaboration in global justice reform.
