Summary
The present report on measuring the effectiveness of the support provided by the United Nations system for the promotion of the rule of law in conflict and postconflict situations is submitted in response to the request of the Security Council contained in S/PRST/2012/1.
Member States are increasingly demanding strengthened accountability from the United Nations. In order to respond to these demands and have information to guide future efforts, it is necessary to measure the impact of the support provided by the United Nations system for the rule of law. United Nations support for the rule of law is measured through the use of planning, assessment and evaluation tools. The collection and analysis of data is critical for measuring the Organization’s impact and is central to national policymaking. The United Nations should, therefore, focus on supporting the development of national capacity in this area. In the present report, it is also acknowledged that particular challenges exist when it comes to measuring the impact of efforts in support of the rule of law.
The report contains details of reforms of the institutional arrangements and efforts made to mainstream the rule of law in all areas of the work of the United Nations. Going forward, a culture of measurement in the Organization must be nurtured and strengthened. The development of a coordinated and system-wide approach to measuring the effectiveness of the support provided by the United Nations system for the rule of law should be a priority for the Organization and be supported by Member States. Support for States’ capacity to collect, analyse and use data must also be strengthened.