Report on UN Constitution-Making Assistance

This is a report commissions by the Secretary-General regarding the United Nations’ capacities and experience in constitution-making assistance. Part II of the report provides background into the nature of constitution-making processes. Part III sets out the role of the United Nations, and specifically the various ways the UN can become involved in a constitution-making process, the institutional capacities available within the UN system for constitution-making assistance, and details on the range of assistance being provided by the UN. The paper also explores the importance of the UN’s reliance on external capacities, and the institutional arrangements currently in use, other options, and the appropriate uses of political oversight in carrying out the UN’s assistance role.