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in 2007 and due for dissemination in early 2008 are fact sheet 31 on the right to health,
co-published with WHO; “The Millennium Development Goals and human rights” , which will
provide an advocacy tool for human rights in development and set out a clear operational
framework for policymakers and development practitioners on how efforts to reach the
Millennium Development Goals can be aligned with human rights standards and obligations; and
“Health, human rights and poverty reduction strategies”, a joint OHCHR and WHO publication,
which mainly addresses public health workers and policymakers, providing answers to many
questions raised by a human rights-based approach to poverty reduction.
48. Human rights presences also collaborated with other national partners, such as civil
society, academic institutions and professional groups. For example, human rights field
presences are supporting activities of non-governmental organizations monitoring the right to
adequate housing and providing legal assistance to victims of forced eviction and domestic
violence (Kyrgyzstan); providing assistance for the creation of a network of non-governmental
organizations on the right to adequate housing (Timor-Leste); and supporting a project on
national budget analysis (the Sudan). In China, OHCHR developed a grant agreement with the
Institute of Law of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences to support the justiciability of
economic, social and cultural rights in China. In Mexico, OHCHR is collaborating with
universities and human rights organizations to draft a proposal on constitutional reform in order
to harmonize the Constitution of Mexico with international human rights standards, including
those on economic, social and cultural rights.
49. OHCHR participated in numerous events, seminars and forums organized by States,
regional systems and coalitions of non-governmental organizations. For example, at the
9th NGO Forum on Human Rights, dedicated to economic, social and cultural rights in
European Union policies, in Lisbon, the Office took part in panels on indicators, human
rights defenders and legal protection of economic, social and cultural rights. The event was
organized by the Portuguese Presidency of the European Union in cooperation with the
European Commission.
D. More synergy with United Nations human rights bodies
50. OHCHR continued to support the Open-ended Working Group on an optional protocol to
the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The Working Group
conducted the first reading of the draft optional protocol at its fourth session from 16 to
27 July 2007. Besides that session, OHCHR supported other related activities, such as informal
consultations relating to the Working Group.
51. United Nations human rights field presences actively supported the mandates of the special
procedures relevant to economic, social and cultural rights established by the Human Rights
Council. The field presences supported country visits by mandate-holders, followed up
recommendations issued by the mandate-holders and investigated or monitored alleged cases of
violation of economic, social and cultural rights brought to the attention of the mandate-holders.
For example, in Nepal, the field presence conducted investigations on alleged violations of the
right to food of an indigenous community and the right to health of a community living near a
toxic waste dump, situations brought to the attention of the relevant mandate-holders. In Uganda,
OHCHR and WHO supported the country visit of the Special Rapporteur on the right to health;
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