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

UN entities: UN agencies and UN country teams in the field

National institutions such as governments, the judiciary, the police, national human rights institutions (duty bearers)

Spotlight populations: Women, persons with disabilities, young people, people of African descendant hence vulnerable groups at risk to be left behind (rights holders)

Outcome 1: The UN Development System and national human rights protection systems are strengthened through Human Rights Advisors (HRA) in programme countries, and hence contribute to a society where all people enjoy their civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights without discrimination and are empowered to be active partners in development in accordance with the 2030 Agenda and its promise to leave no one behind.

Outcome 2: Sustainable Development is advanced through effective implementation of economic, social and cultural rights and human rights mainstreaming in SDG implementation.

Expected results:  

1. Contribution/funding of HRAs positions in the field: (a) improve human rights capacity of UN country teams in programme countries without OHCHR presence to uphold international norms and standards and support system-wide coherence on HR mainstreaming and (b) increase capacities of national and local governments, national human rights institutions, and civil society to promote and protect human rights.
2. Economic, social and cultural rights are strengthened through advocacy (1) for state policies addressing poverty, education, sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, and other basic needs, to ensure more equitable and just societies; (2) for business actors to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights effectively and (3) national institutions to collect and use data relevant for advancing HR when they monitor and implement the SDGs.

Results from previous phases:   In several countries (RWA, oPT, HON, NICA, UKR etc.), OHCHR – with SDC HQ and field contributions - has played an essential role in bringing together civil society organisations and in opening up spaces for dialogue with host governments, although OHCHR’s cooperation with other UN agencies was not always ideal in some countries. With its HQ in Geneva and 91 field presences, OHCHR in 2023 supported among others the HR mechanisms (172 treaty body experts, 60 Special Rapporteurs, 350 communications), the HR integration in the UN system (43 HR Advisors, 11 HR components in Peace Missions), worked people centered (59’390 victims of torture received rehabilitation support, 12’130 victims of contemporary form of slavery received assistance) and engaged with civil society (2442 statements by NGOs during HR Council sessions, nearly 4000 participants in the 12th Business and HR Forum).