A/HRC/40/78
Peru, Philippines, the Republic of Moldova, the Russian Federation, Rwanda, Serbia, Sri
Lanka, Timor-Leste, Uruguay, Zimbabwe and the South Caucasus region (Georgia)); 7
human rights components of peace missions (in Afghanistan, the Central African Republic,
Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Libya, Somalia and the Sudan (Darfur)); and 5 country/stand-alone
offices in the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Chad, Mauritania, Mexico and the State of
Palestine.
64.
Through the Fund, OHCHR has continued to facilitate national efforts to incorporate
international human rights standards into national laws, policies and practices, with
particular emphasis on the follow-up to recommendations made by international human
rights mechanisms and the development of online mechanisms to facilitate such follow-up.
It has also contributed to the establishment and strengthening of national structures,
institutions and capacities to ensure adherence to those standards. Resident Coordinators
and country teams have continued to see their human rights capacity strengthened. Detailed
information on income and expenditure under the Voluntary Fund, its financial status in
2018 and a list of donors and contributors are annexed to the present report (see annexes II–
IV).
V. Main findings and recommendations
65.
The Board has welcomed the new management programme for the period 2018–
2021 and in particular the vision of OHCHR to continue maximizing its impact through a
clear definition of the foreseeable results in the next four years. The shifts in the
programme and in particular the engagement and investment in the so-called frontier issues
is welcomed and reflects the capability of OHCHR to adapt to new challenges. It is open to
exploring, analysing and providing advice in critical new spheres with clear human rights
dimensions. The interest and engagement with youth is another key feature that the Board
and the partners with whom the Board has met have stressed as critically important.
66.
The discussions with all partners have continued to highlight how the monitoring
work undertaken by OHCHR informs the programmes of its partners. Further, the
monitoring role contributes positively to the tangible results achieved in the development of
the national protection frameworks, including in the promotion and protection of economic,
social and cultural rights, as well as ensuring the interdependency and interrelatedness of all
rights. From its most recent sessions in Latin America, the Board would like to highlight
the promising practices it has observed in the support to national efforts for the prevention
of all forms of discrimination, marginalization and exclusion. For example, the advice
provided by the Regional Office for Central America in Panama on the development of
legislation and policy regarding sexual and reproductive health and the prevention role
through mediation support in the context of social protest played by OHCHR in Colombia
demonstrate the direct impact on the lives of people on the ground. Those examples
illustrate the multifaceted efforts and innovative approaches of OHCHR in its support to the
State and institutions on the ground. Its expertise has enabled it to get an accurate picture of
the challenges that need to be addressed and of the relevant institutions to work with on the
design and implementation of appropriate programmes.
67.
The Board is impressed by the commitment, knowledge and capacity of OHCHR
staff but most importantly by how it uses those capacities strategically to build trust, offer
space for dialogue and support positive change. On every single visit, the Board has heard
positive stories of the changes in lives and realities directly from victims and from State
partners. For that reason, the Board is very pleased to see the plans for further investment
by OHCHR to ensure that those stories are better known and communicated.
68.
The Board very much welcomes the identification by OHCHR of corruption as a
critical front-line issue requiring particular focus and attention in the coming years. It is
very encouraged that OHCHR appreciates its advice and views on continuing to develop
the work and conceptual frameworks on the links between human rights and the fight
against corruption. In particular OHCHR is well positioned to explore how it can be
included in different aspects of technical assistance and in training programmes. It
appreciates the view expressed by many interlocutors that there is an important link
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