A/HRC/32/51
follow-up on the recommendations of the universal periodic review and other human rights
mechanisms, an interest also shared by the Ministry of Justice, the Board provided
information about the possibilities of additional support through the Voluntary Fund for
Financial and Technical Assistance in the Implementation of the Universal Periodic
Review, which could complement the ongoing collaboration within the country. It also
shared with them some recent experiences in various other regions.
24.
The work of regional partners, such as the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Council of Europe and the European Union, the
cooperation with the Mission and the mutually reinforcing coordination were also areas of
interest for the Board during its visit. In the meetings with the Representative of the
Secretary-General of the Council of Europe and the Chief of the OSCE Monitoring
Mission, the Board discussed how partners in the country make the best use of the reports
and the work from the Mission and how coordination function in practice. The Board was
very pleased to observe the excellent coordination on the ground and how the relevant
partners work strategically to maximize each other’s added value for maximum impact.
Although regional partners have more human and financial capacity, the Board observed
that there are great expectations on OHCHR to provide not only objective evidence and
analysis in its monitoring reports but also active advice and support on the type of technical
assistance required.
25.
The Board found that the priorities of OHCHR, as articulated through the Mission,
were very much in line with the expectations from all partners in the country, and that the
Mission’s experience should serve as a good example of what can be achieved even in
difficult and complex circumstances, provided that the Office has the opportunity and
received the support and the resources needed to demonstrate its capacity. While there had
been many developments in the country over the past three years, this was a critical
juncture to ensure that reforms and changes lead to positive results for the effective
promotion and protection of human rights. All the partners that the Board met saw the
Mission’s reporting work and the advice and technical support that it could provide as
playing a key role in ensuring that their own programmes and actions moved towards full
compliance with international standards. They saw that as a role the Office should continue
to play. The Board was most impressed with the professionalism, dedication and
commitment of the Mission’s staff, who work in a very difficult and a challenging context.
26.
The Board took the opportunity of its last day in Kyiv to hold an internal meeting on
its future programme of work. During the meeting, the Board formally elected Christopher
Sidoti as its Chair, to succeed Ms. Lim from 1 July 2016. The Board also proposed that its
next field session in October 2016 should be to a country office in Latin America.
III. Technical cooperation
A.
Technical cooperation to reflect national development objectives
27.
The Board has brought to the attention of the Human Rights Council a number of
components for effective technical cooperation by OHCHR that have become evident in its
experience of overseeing the management of the Voluntary Fund. The Board, through its
reports and presentations to the Council, had already elaborated on (a) the importance of
anchoring technical cooperation to the universality and indivisibility of all human rights,
including both protection and promotion aspects; (b) the critical importance of building and
strengthening national frameworks and institutions in the field of human rights through
technical cooperation and advisory services; (c) the importance of partnerships with United
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