Rule of Law
LEADERSHIP INITIATIVES
PROMOTING A STRATEGIC APPROACH TO RULE OF LAW PROGRAMMING: The Rule of Law (ROL) Strategic Framework is a comprehensive approach to building the rule of law and promoting democratic governance. The Framework helps Missions analyze the ROL environment, design programs, measure progress and promote coherent responses from USG agencies and other donors. The ROL division will use the Framework for the planned Africa Regional ROL Status Review and training of USAID field staff.
POLICE MATCHING FUNDS: We implement the USAID Policy Guidance on Civilian Policing. Activities have included funding a pilot community policing program in Northern Uganda and helping five missions design and fund civilian policing programs. We are preparing a field guide to assisting police in developing countries. The ROL and Governance Divisions plan to support additional pilot activities in community policing and security sector reform.
NON-STATE JUSTICE: Customary, traditional and religious justice systems serve large percentages of the population in many countries. Strengthening non-state institutions and actors can increase the legitimacy of the state justice system and increase access to justice. We will test these concepts through a pilot program that works with informal justice institutions and actors. In addition, the we are preparing a guide to help missions work on rule of law programs in countries with Sharia law.
LEGAL EMPOWERMENT: We are promoting approaches that target the needs of poor and marginalized groups by sponsoring a pilot program that strengthens their rights as citizens and increases access to justice.
CULTURE OF LAWFULNESS: In cooperation with the Civil Society Division, we are currently implementing a pilot program to strengthen citizens’ respect for and understanding of the law in Pereira, Columbia. The program utilizes a holistic approach to promoting a “culture of lawfulness” by engaging four pillars of society:
schools, media, police, and the ‘pillars of moral authority’ such as religious leaders or prominent community leaders.
JUDICIAL EXCHANGES: We facilitate exchanges of federal judges and other judicial officials with their counterparts in developing countries. The objective is to help reform-minded judges to carry out their functions independently in evolving democratic or postconflict environments.
TECHNICAL PRODUCTS: We share our technical expertise through design, production, and dissemination of technical publications, training modules and workshops. These activities aim to shape current rule of law thinking and practice among USAID staff, partners, donors and the scholarly and policy communities. Recent and planned publications include:
- Guide to Rule of Law Country Analysis;
- Latin America Criminal Code Reform Implementation Assessment;
- Administrative Law Guide;
- Guide to Court Reform and the Role of Court Personnel;
- Rebuilding the Rule of Law in Post-Conflict Environments;
- Improving the Rule of Law through Non-State Justice Institutions.
 Read more about our Strategic Focus
Read more about our Strategic Goals
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