Office of the United Nations Office of the United Nations High Commissioner High Commissioner

for Human Rights (OHCHR)for Human Rights (OHCHR)

OHCHR in the UNOHCHR in the UN• Part of the UN Secretariat, staffed by international civil servants Part of the UN Secretariat, staffed by international civil servants

(established in 1993)(established in 1993)• Headed by the High Commissioner, since September 2008: Headed by the High Commissioner, since September 2008:

Navanethem Pillay, preceded by Louise Arbour (2004-2008), Navanethem Pillay, preceded by Louise Arbour (2004-2008), Sergio Vieira de Mello (2002-2003), Mary Robinson (1997-2002) Sergio Vieira de Mello (2002-2003), Mary Robinson (1997-2002) and José Ayala Lasso (1994-1997)and José Ayala Lasso (1994-1997)

• Leads global human rights effortsLeads global human rights efforts• Works with governments and civil societyWorks with governments and civil society• Speaks out objectively in the face of human rights violationsSpeaks out objectively in the face of human rights violations

• Staff:Staff: a approx. 1000 (half in Geneva and half in the field)pprox. 1000 (half in Geneva and half in the field)

• Regular budget 2008-2009 in US dollar: 115 millionRegular budget 2008-2009 in US dollar: 115 million• Voluntary contributions in 2008 in US dollar: 120 millionVoluntary contributions in 2008 in US dollar: 120 million

What We Do What We Do - Promote and protect human rights- Promote and protect human rights

- Assist governments and help empower people- Assist governments and help empower people

- Inject a human rights perspective into UN - Inject a human rights perspective into UN programmesprogrammes

How We Do ItHow We Do It- Provide support to standard setting - Provide support to standard setting mechanismsmechanisms- Monitor implementation of human rights - Monitor implementation of human rights obligationsobligations- Conduct research on thematic issues- Conduct research on thematic issues- Mainstream human rights within UN system- Mainstream human rights within UN system

Human Rights CouncilHuman Rights Council• Intergovernmental body, Intergovernmental body,

serviced by OHCHRserviced by OHCHR• Addresses human rights Addresses human rights

violationsviolations• Reviews States’ human Reviews States’ human

rights recordrights record• Works to prevent human Works to prevent human

rights abusesrights abuses• Responds to emergenciesResponds to emergencies• International forum for International forum for

human rights dialoguehuman rights dialogue• Recommends Recommends

developments in human developments in human rights lawrights law

Special RapporteursSpecial Rapporteurs

• Independent Experts, appointed by the Independent Experts, appointed by the Human Rights Council and supported by Human Rights Council and supported by OHCHROHCHR

• Monitor human rights situation in individual Monitor human rights situation in individual countries or specific human rights issues countries or specific human rights issues worldwideworldwide

• Research issues of concernResearch issues of concern• Conduct country visits on invitationConduct country visits on invitation• Receive and consider complaints Receive and consider complaints • Appeal to governmentsAppeal to governments• Respond to emergenciesRespond to emergencies• Report to the Human Rights CouncilReport to the Human Rights Council

Treaty BodiesTreaty Bodies• Committees of Committees of

Independent ExpertsIndependent Experts• Monitor State parties’ Monitor State parties’

compliance with their compliance with their treaty obligationstreaty obligations

• Examine reports from Examine reports from State partiesState parties

• Adopt RecommendationsAdopt Recommendations• Issue General CommentsIssue General Comments• Consider individual Consider individual

complaintscomplaints

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 (CATCommittee 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)

ImplementationImplementationThrough country engagement,Through country engagement,

field presences, technical cooperation, field presences, technical cooperation,

advisory services, educationadvisory services, education