A/HRC/41/25 I. Introduction 1. In resolution 38/3 of 5 July 2018, the Human Rights Council requested the High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare a report, to be submitted to the Council at its forty-first session, on the work of OHCHR on the implementation and enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights, and propose possible ways to face the challenges to the promotion and protection of human rights, including the right to development. II. An enabling environment for enhanced international cooperation 2. As outlined by the Secretary-General in his report on strengthening United Nations action in the field of human rights through the promotion of international cooperation, and the importance of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity, during the last few years a new momentum has emerged for constructive and cooperative engagement in the field of human rights (see A/72/351). The adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the launch of the United Nations reform process and the start of the third cycle of the universal periodic review of the Human Rights Council have served as a catalyst for national implementation efforts that integrate human rights into the 2030 Agenda and the targets and indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals, making use, as a key entry point, of supported recommendations from the universal periodic review, thus leading to nationally led and nationally owned processes which will result in a more constructive engagement with Member States. 3. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is grounded in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international human rights treaties, and is informed by other instruments, such as the Declaration on the Right to Development. It envisages “a world of universal respect for human rights and human dignity, the rule of law, justice, equality and non-discrimination; of respect for race, ethnicity and cultural diversity; and of equal opportunity”. 1 The implementation of the 2030 Agenda should, therefore, be fully aligned with international human rights norms and standards, and recommendations from international human rights mechanisms should guide implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Member States are advised that voluntary national reviews should reflect, as a minimum, supported recommendations from the universal periodic review and more generally should include their own human rights reporting, which greatly improves coordination and follow-up, and reduces their reporting burden. 4. OHCHR is the custodian agency of the United Nations for five official indicators under Sustainable Development Goals 16 and 10, including on national human rights institutions (16.a.1), violence against human rights defenders (16.10.1), the prevalence of discrimination (10.3.1 and 16.b.1) and conflict-related deaths (16.1.2). It is engaged in the realization of Goals 5, 10, 16 and 17, with an emphasis on extending support to human rights mechanisms at the “normative” level and on operational support at the country level. 5. The process of reform of the United Nations launched by the Secretary-General frames the potential for human rights and international cooperation. In regard to development, the reform includes a new generation of United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks as the core planning and implementation instrument governing the efforts of the United Nations to pursue the Sustainable Development Goals at the national level, thus providing opportunities to address underlying human rights concerns. Peace and security reform accords priority to prevention and sustaining peace, and consequently builds the coherence of peacekeeping operations and special political missions aimed at a single, integrated peace and security pillar. In that context, as indicated by the SecretaryGeneral in his initial report to the General Assembly, the collective work of the United 1 2 General Assembly resolution 70/1, para. 8.