UN Constitutional Issue 4 May 2015

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UN Constitutional Issue 4 May 2015

May 27, 2015

The UN Constitutional newsletter is being produced jointly by the UN Department of Political Affairs, UNDP, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Children’s Fund, and UN Women.  By launching the publication, these arms of the UN, all of which work on constitutional matters, aim to bolster information-sharing, collaboration, and cross-learning.   

 

The UN Constitutional is part of a broader push to strengthen the UN’s contribution to constitution-making. Far from being a theoretical exercise, constitution-making can have very tangible outcomes.

 

A constitution is not a lifeless piece of paper. If implemented properly, a strong constitution is the backbone of many democracies. In many instances, constitutions are a pre-condition for the fundamental freedoms cherished by millions of people around the world. Constitutions enshrine in law the rights enjoyed by citizens, thereby penetrating every sphere of life – from human rights and political participation to the distribution of resources and environmental protection.

 

It comes as no surprise, therefore, that supporting countries as they review and revise their constitutions is pivotal to ensuring peace and stability at the national, regional and international levels.

 

Nurturing that peace and stability is a goal shared by all participating UN entities, each of which focuses on a particular aspect of constitution-making – from ensuring that women’s rights are respected to paving the way for long-term development.

 

The newsletter offers a regular snapshot of what is going on in the complex environment of constitutional assistance, featuring news from Headquarters and UN Country Teams, Political and Peacekeeping Missions on the ground.

 

Sign up for the next edition, or share your feedback: constitutionmaker@un.org