Towards-Sdg-16-Promoting-Just-Peaceful-And-Inclusive-Societies-In-Europe.Pdf
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1 TOWARDS SDG 16: Promoting Just, Peaceful and Inclusive Societies in Europe and Central Asia 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD 7 PART I INTRODUCTION 10 Key Socio-Economic and Political Developments in Europe and the CIS 11 Ongoing Confl icts and the Refugee and Migrant Crisis 11 Economic Slowdown 12 Political Processes 13 Opening Up, Reforms and EU Accession 14 CONFLICT PREVENTION AND PEACEBUILDING OVERVIEW 15 KEY TRENDS Protracted Confl icts and Ongoing Tension 16 New and Old Threats from Violent Extremism 17 WHAT WE DO Confl ict Analysis and Risk Assessment 18 Turning impartiality into action – How DPA and UNDP work together to support citizens in areas where few others can operate 19 Opening Dialogues and ConfIence- Building 21 Understanding what divides and unites societies – How the Social Cohesion and Reconciliation Index (SCORE) has better targeted UNDP’s peacebuilding assistance 22 Reconciliation and Peacebuilding 24 Confl ict Management and Recovery 25 RESPONSIVE AND ACCOUNTABLE INSTITUTIONS OVERVIEW 27 KEY TRENDS Corruption Slowly Declining 28 Increasing Government Eff ectiveness and Regulatory Quality 29 The Growing Use of Technology and Innovation 30 WHAT WE DO 31 Anti-Corruption and Transparency 31 Open Data, Better Governance 34 Core Government Functions 35 Regional Hub of Civil Service in Astana 35 Local Governance and Local Development 37 Migration and Displacement: A Resilience-Based Development Approach 38 INCLUSIVE POLITICAL PROCESSES OVERVIEW 41 KEY TRENDS Diverging Levels of Voice and Accountability 42 The Growing Presence of Women in Decision-Making Roles 44 4 Table of Contents WHAT WE DO Parliamentary Development 45 Constitutional Reform 46 Electoral Cycle Support 46 Civic Engagement 47 Women’s Equal Political Participation 49 Women in Decision-Making - Increasing the Proportion of Women Parliamentarians 51 RULE OF LAW, JUSTICE, SECURITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS OVERVIEW 52 KEY TRENDS Variable Conditions for Human Rights Protections and the Rule of Law 54 Continuing Security Threats 54 WHAT WE DO Strengthening National Systems Human Rights Protection 54 National Human Rights Institutions: Key human rights actors in confl ict and post-confl ict situations 55 Legislative Reform and Eff ective Justice Systems 57 Improving Access to Justice 58 Anti-Discrimination and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 60 Torture Prevention and Improvement of Detention Conditions 61 Community Security and Reduction of Armed Violence 62 Prevention and Response to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence 65 Reform in the Western Balkans – Gender Equality in the Military 66 Transitional Justice 67 PART II ALBANIA Background 70 Assistance and Impact 71 Challenges, Lessons Learned and the Way Forward 73 ARMENIA Background 75 Assistance and Impact 76 Challenges, Lessons Learned and the Way Forward 77 AZERBAIJAN Background 79 Assistance and Impact 80 Challenges, Lessons Learned and the Way Forward 82 BELARUS Background 83 Assistance and Impact 84 Challenges, Lessons Learned and the Way Forward 86 BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA Background 88 Assistance and Impact 89 Challenges, Lessons Learned and the Way Forward 91 GEORGIA Background 93 Assistance and Impact 94 Challenges, Lessons Learned and the Way Forward 96 5 Towards SDG 16: Promoting Just, Peaceful and Inclusive Societies in Europe and Central Asia KAZAKHSTAN Background 98 Assistance and Impact 99 Challenges, Lessons Learned and the Way Forward 100 KOSOVO1 Background 102 Assistance and Impact 103 Challenges, Lessons Learned and the Way Forward 105 KYRGYZ REPUBLIC Background 107 Assistance and Impact 108 Challenges, Lessons Learned and the Way Forward 111 MOLDova Background 113 Assistance and Impact 114 Challenges, Lessons Learned and the Way Forward 116 MONTENEGRO Background 118 Assistance and Impact 119 Challenges, Lessons Learned and the Way Forward 121 SERBIA Background 122 Assistance and Impact 123 Challenges, Lessons Learned and the Way Forward 124 TAJIKISTAN Background 126 Assistance and Impact 127 Challenges, Lessons Learned and the Way Forward 129 THE FORMER Yugoslav REPUBLIC OF MaceDONIA Background 131 Assistance and Impact 133 Challenges, Lessons Learned and the Way Forward 135 TURKEY Background 136 Assistance and Impact 137 Challenges, Lessons Learned and the Way Forward 138 Turkmenistan Background 140 Assistance and Impact 141 Challenges, Lessons Learned and the Way Forward 142 Ukraine Background 144 Assistance and Impact 145 Challenges, Lessons Learned and the Way Forward 148 Uzbekistan Background 148 Assistance and Impact 149 Challenges, Lessons Learned and the Way Forward 151 Appendix 1 – Partners 152 1 All references to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999). 6 Foreword FOREWORD The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works around the world to help eradicate poverty, reduce inequality and exclusion, and make development more sustainable. With the targets of inclusive growth, better services, environmental sustainability, good governance, and security, we provide exper- tise in development thinking and practice, which, in combination with our decades of experience, helps to support countries in meeting their development aspirations, and ensure the voices of all sections of society are represented. As a key part of this development agenda, UNDP’s governance and peacebuilding work lays the founda- tion for further development gains. By helping to strengthen representative governance, increase po- litical inclusiveness, improve the capacity of institutions and quality of regulation, and reduce violence, governance and peacebuilding in turn encourages open debate, raises awareness of issues, and fosters inclusive growth. Given recent history, governance and peacebuilding is of particular importance in the Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States (ECIS) region. By combining high-level strategic capabilities, specialist knowledge and on-the-ground experience, UNDP works to ensure its interventions are effec- tive and meaningful. Operating from offices in every country in the region, as well as the regional hub in Istanbul, UNDP’s ability to combine local expertise and regional level coordination provides us with a unique opportunity to effect real change. It is an approach that also allows UNDP to effectively manage political complexity and mitigate the risk of conflict and violence. In 2015, UNDP’s governance and peacebuilding work took on a new significance with the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 2030 Agenda is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity that also seeks to promote peace and freedom. Together, the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda require all countries and stakeholders, acting in col- laborative partnership, to take the bold and transformative steps urgently required to shift the world on to a sustainable and resilient path. As is outlined in the 2030 Agenda, it is vital that we recognise that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. Adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at a historic UN Summit, the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda of- ficially came into force on 1 January 2016. In response, over the next fifteen years, countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind. These efforts will be guided by a specific set of targets provided for each SDG. For UNDP’s governance and peacebuilding programming, the targets under ‘Goal 16 - Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies’ and ‘Goal 5 – Ensuring gender equality and women’s empowerment’ will be integrated into all of UNDP’s governance and peacebuilding work. Reflecting the importance of the 2030 Agenda, the SDGs and their corresponding targets, this report has been prepared to provide an overview of UNDP’s governance and peacebuilding work in the ECIS region, and to serve as a baseline for measuring progress. Focusing on 2015 - the year before work towards the SDGs began - this report provides analysis of the state of the region, major events, and achievements at both the regional level and for each country and territory. While not exhaustive, this report will allow for progress to be evaluated going forward, in addition to providing insights into how UNDP makes a differ- ence at a practical level in promoting just, peaceful and inclusive societies in the region. Rastislav Vrbensky Deputy Regional Director UNDP Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS 7 PART I Towards SDG 16: Promoting Just, Peaceful and Inclusive Societies in Europe and Central Asia INTRODUCTION In the ECIS region, UNDP works with local, national needs of citizens, maximizes transparency, and international partners to strengthen inclusive and have clear chains of accountability; and eff ective governance and peace, by advo- 3. inclusive political processes – ensuring that cating, advising, enabling discussion, fostering parliaments, elections and the political system consensus and capacitating institutions. UNDP in general is inclusive, responsive and provides achieves these goals by creating an environment a voice for all citizens; in which all partners, including civil society, can 4. rule of law, justice, security and human grow in strength and contribute towards sustain- rights – working with, governments, jus- able development. tice and security institutions and citizens to strengthen the rule of law, improve