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OHCHR - Strategic Partnership with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Project completed

Promoting respect for human rights is a foreign policy goal and pillar of Swiss international cooperation, as the denial of human rights is one of the main factors of poverty. With a multi-year contribution to the Geneva-based Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, focussing on selected geographic and thematic priorities, SDC will support this organisation to better play its key role in integrating human rights in sustainable development.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Central America
Global
Human rights
Conflict & fragility
Human rights (incl. Women's rights)
Conflict prevention
16.11.2020 - 31.12.2023
 CHF  6’000’000
The project in brief
Background Human rights are at the core of sustainable development”. They stand for equality, for participatory and inclusive societies that dismantle the structures of discrimination that drive poverty and inequality. More than 90% of SDG targets and indicators are linked to international human rights (HR) standards. This means that HR are central for the successful implementation of the SDGs and essential for SDC’s work. OHCHR is the leading UN agency for human rights and plays a key role in integrating human rights in sustainable development.
Objectives Contribute to more equal, just and inclusive societies for sustainable development.
Target groups

Rights-holders: The final beneficiaries of the support are rights holders in SDC’s partner countries and regions, eg. vulnerable groups at risk to be left behind, including women and girls; youth; people with disabilities; people on the move; older persons, indigenous groups; human rights defenders; LGBTI.

Duty bearers: national duty bearers such as governments, the judiciary, the police, national human rights institutions.

UN actors: UN agencies, UN country teams, UN development actors in the field.
Medium-term outcomes

Outcome 1:  economic, social and cultural rights are strengthened and human rights integrated in SDG implementation

Outcome 2: rule of law and accountability for human rights violations are strengthened

Outcome 3: early warning and violence prevention mechanisms in situations of conflict and insecurity are strengthened

Outcome 4: human rights in Central America are better respected, protected and promoted 
Results

Expected results:   (1) Develop field-oriented thematic knowledge to help UN development actors integrate HR into work at country level;
(2) support national duty bearers to strengthen economic social and cultural rights;
(3) Develop and share new thematic knowledge regarding information management practices and to provide real time early warning analysis for conflict prevention
(4) Provide technical assistance to civil society organisations so that they are better equipped to engage on HR at local, national and international level


Results from previous phases:   In Honduras, OHCHR’s work has played an essential role in bringing together civil society organizations and in opening up spaces for dialogue with the government. In the area of prevention, OHCHR contributed to establishing monthly regional shared context analyses by UN actors in the field. At policy level, OHCHR has developed guidance for UN development actors on how to ensure to leave no one behind through a HR based approach and advised duty bearers at all levels to ensure that COVID responses are HR based.


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Development cooperation
Project partners Contract partner
United Nations Organization (UNO)
  • UNHCHR


Other partners
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Coordination with other projects and actors

SDC country offices’ support to:

OHCHR country office in Opt

OHCHR Monitoring Mission Ukraine

OHCHR work on Nicaragua
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    6’000’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    6’000’000 Total project since first phase Budget inclusive project partner CHF   936’007’534
Project phases Phase 2 01.01.2024 - 31.12.2027   (Current phase)

Phase 1 16.11.2020 - 31.12.2023   (Completed)

  • Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY
    GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY
    GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY
    Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation
    Human rights
    Human rights
    Civilian peace-building, conflict prevention and resolution
    Cross-cutting topics Human rights
    The project supports partner organisation improvements as a priority
    Aid Type Core contribution
    Project number

    7F10560

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Last update 02.08.2024