The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, has called for the respect of the rule of law, following the growing demand for justice worldwide.
Ban made the call in New York on Thursday while addressing the Security Council meeting on the rule of law and transitional justice and post-conflict settings.
“We have to create a world where the rule of law, social justice, accountability and a culture of prevention will be the foundations of sustainable development and durable peace.
“It will take commitment from the international community and the Security Council to see that justice is done, where justice is due,”?? Ban said.
“He noted that the debate organised by the South African Presidency of the Council, came at a time of “breathtaking” political change driven by peoples’ calls for accountability, transparency and the rule of law.
“Women and men everywhere want their rights to be respected. They are risking their lives in peaceful protests to demand the opportunities, dignity and secure future that every individual deserves.
“There is no silencing this cry for justice. Repression only raises the volume. Our task is to usher in an era of respect for the law in every field from peace and security to trade and development from the high seas to local communities.
“Never has the UN’s rule of law sector faced such great challenges or such historic opportunities. This Security Council meeting is part of a broader international push to rise to this moment.”
He said that in September, the UN would convene a high-level meeting on the rule of law, saying it would be the first event of its kind and the first time since 2005 that the issues would be discussed by top leaders.
Ban added that the organisation was working to promote the rule of law and to extend it to more than 150 countries and to combat transnational crime, build confidence and capacity in state institutions and battle discrimination against women.
“For societies traumatised by years of fighting and gross violations of human rights nothing is more critical than establishing the rule of law.
“When the guns fall silent, the United Nations is often the first organisation on the ground helping fractured countries to start building peace and strengthening key institutions.”
Ban noted that the UN’s approach had three basic components, promoting accountability and reinforcing norms through transitional justice, building justice and security institutions to promote trust and focusing on justice for women and girls to foster gender equality.
“The Security Council has helped bring these priorities to the top of the international agenda.”
He encouraged the 15-member body to include the promotion of transitional justice measures more broadly in the mandates of peacekeeping and political missions.
Ban further urged them to also reject any endorsement of amnesty for perpetrators of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity or gross violations of human rights.
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