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Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). OHCHR in the UN. Part of the UN Secretariat, staffed by international civil servants (established in 1993)
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Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
OHCHR in the UN • Part of the UN Secretariat, staffed by international civil servants (established in 1993) • Headed by the High Commissioner, since September 2008: Navanethem Pillay, preceded by Louise Arbour (2004-2008), Sergio Vieira de Mello (2002-2003), Mary Robinson (1997-2002) and José Ayala Lasso (1994-1997) • Leads global human rights efforts • Works with governments and civil society • Speaks out objectively in the face of human rights violations • Staff: approx. 1000 (half in Geneva and half in the field) • Regular budget 2008-2009 in US dollar: 115 million • Voluntary contributions in 2008 in US dollar: 120 million
What We Do - Promote and protect human rights - Assist governments and help empower people - Inject a human rights perspective into UN programmes How We Do It - Provide support to standard setting mechanisms - Monitor implementation of human rights obligations - Conduct research on thematic issues - Mainstream human rights within UN system
Human Rights Council • Intergovernmental body, serviced by OHCHR • Addresses human rights violations • Reviews States’ human rights record • Works to prevent human rights abuses • Responds to emergencies • International forum for human rights dialogue • Recommends developments in human rights law
Special Rapporteurs • Independent Experts, appointed by the Human Rights Council and supported by OHCHR • Monitor human rights situation in individual countries or specific human rights issues worldwide • Research issues of concern • Conduct country visits on invitation • Receive and consider complaints • Appeal to governments • Respond to emergencies • Report to the Human Rights Council
Treaty Bodies Currently there are 9 such treaty bodies: Human Rights Committee (CCPR) Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Committee Against Torture (CAT Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) Committee on Migrant Workers (CMW) Sub-Committee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT / OPCAT) Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) • Committees of Independent Experts • Monitor State parties’ compliance with their treaty obligations • Examine reports from State parties • Adopt Recommendations • Issue General Comments • Consider individual complaints
Implementation Through country engagement, field presences, technical cooperation, advisory services, education