A/HRC/4/49
page 7
22.
In June 2007, OHCHR will close its offices in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia where
my Office has been active for more than 10 years. OHCHR will remain present in the region,
though, strengthening its office in Kosovo in light of serious human rights concerns and
upcoming challenges.
23.
Last year, I established offices in Nepal, Guatemala and Uganda. In these three
countries, our engagement has been fruitful and Governments’ cooperation has given hope for a
definite improvement of the situation. A report on the human rights situation in Uganda and one
on Guatemala are being presented as addenda to the present report, and a report on the human
rights situation in Nepal is being submitted separately to this fourth session of the Human Rights
Council, in accordance with the terms of the respective agreements.
24.
My country visits also serve an important purpose in strengthening country engagements.
In 2006, I conducted visits to the Russian Federation and the Northern Caucasus
(19-25 February), Cambodia (17-19 May), Ethiopia and Kenya (April) - the latter concerning
Somalia - the Sudan (30 April-5 May), Germany (12-13 October), Canada (3-8 November), Haiti
(15-17 October), Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory (19-24 November). The common
message in all my missions was the need for accountability with a view to putting an end to
impunity for all forms of human rights violations. In a number of countries visited, I raised
concerns about restrictions on civil society and freedom of expression. I made presentations
about my various country visits in my regular oral updates before the Human Rights Council.
In 2007, I have already undertaken a very useful follow-up mission after my first mission to
Nepal two years ago.
25.
My Office also substantively assists the work of Human Rights Components of 17 peace
missions. We also initiated a review of this support in order to enhance its capacity to provide
advice and training to civilian, police and military components of peace missions. Since 2005,
significant steps have been taken towards bringing human rights into the heart of the work of
peace missions through enhanced cooperation between the Department of Peacekeeping
Operations, the Department of Political Affairs and OHCHR. In early December 2006, in
New York, an annual meeting of Heads of Human Rights Components in Peace Mission was, for
the first time, co-organized, by OHCHR, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the
Department of Political Affairs and gathered Heads of Human Rights Components of peace
missions, high-level officials from OHCHR, the two Secretariat departments above, and desk
officers from the three entities.
26.
Efforts have also been made towards more systematic public reporting on human rights
(including thematic reporting) by human rights components of peace missions. A number of
missions are issuing regular public human rights reports, including the United Nations
Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), the United Nations Organization Mission in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire
(ONUCI), the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), the United Nations
Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and the United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS) - the latter
two jointly with OHCHR.
27.
Partnerships with humanitarian agencies are also a key component of effective country
engagement. In 2006, OHCHR further contributed to humanitarian coordinating mechanisms at
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents