Guidance Note of the Secretary-General on United Nations Constitutional Assistance

Constitution making is a central aspect of conflict prevention, peacebuilding and promoting human rights, the rule of law and sustainable human development. For the United Nations (UN), constitution making is a broad concept that covers the process of drafting or amending a constitution, the substance of constitutional text, and the subsequent implementation of a constitution. Both the process and substance are critical elements of constitution making. 

This Note sets out the guiding principles and framework for UN support to constitutional processes derived from lessons learned from UN constitutional assistance experiences. While each process is distinctive, the Note outlines frequently encountered elements and phases of constitutional processes and identifies some principles, resources and expertise that can promote effective constitutional assistance and implementation.