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) 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 ( ), Sergio Vieira de Mello ( ), Mary Robinson ( ) and Jos é Ayala Lasso ( ) Headed by the High Commissioner, since September 2008: Navanethem Pillay, preceded by Louise Arbour ( ), Sergio Vieira de Mello ( ), Mary Robinson ( ) and Jos é Ayala Lasso ( ) Leads global human rights efforts Leads global human rights efforts Works with governments and civil society Works with governments and civil society Speaks out objectively in the face of human rights violations Speaks out objectively in the face of human rights violations Staff: approx (half in Geneva and half in the field) Staff: approx (half in Geneva and half in the field) Regular budget in US dollar: 115 million Regular budget in US dollar: 115 million Voluntary contributions in 2008 in US dollar: 120 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 Intergovernmental body, serviced by OHCHR Addresses human rights violations Addresses human rights violations Reviews States’ human rights record Reviews States’ human rights record Works to prevent human rights abuses Works to prevent human rights abuses Responds to emergencies Responds to emergencies International forum for human rights dialogue International forum for human rights dialogue Recommends developments in human rights law Recommends developments in human rights law

Special Rapporteurs Independent Experts, appointed by the Human Rights Council and supported by OHCHR 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 Monitor human rights situation in individual countries or specific human rights issues worldwide Research issues of concern Research issues of concern Conduct country visits on invitation Conduct country visits on invitation Receive and consider complaints Receive and consider complaints Appeal to governments Appeal to governments Respond to emergencies Respond to emergencies Report to the Human Rights Council Report to the Human Rights Council

Treaty Bodies Committees of Independent Experts Committees of Independent Experts Monitor State parties’ compliance with their treaty obligations Monitor State parties’ compliance with their treaty obligations Examine reports from State parties Examine reports from State parties Adopt Recommendations Adopt Recommendations Issue General Comments Issue General Comments Consider individual complaints Consider individual complaints 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)

Implementation Through country engagement, field presences, technical cooperation, advisory services, education