A/HRC/35/20
develop a human rights-based directive on preventing and combating trafficking in human
beings and protecting its victims. Adopted in 2011, the directive takes into account the
contributions by United Nations entities on existing relevant international human rights
standards.
26.
OHCHR also provided technical assistance to the European Agency for the
Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of
the European Union (Frontex) in aligning its policies with the new framework. In close
cooperation with the Frontex training unit and with the collaboration of the European Union
Agency for Fundamental Rights, UNODC, UNHCR, UNICEF, UN-Women, the
International Organization for Migration, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe and others, OHCHR provided legal and methodological advice for the development
of two specialized training packages for border guards, in compliance with international
and regional human rights standards.
A human-rights based approach to migration: developing a code of conduct for the
protection of migrant domestic workers in Lebanon
27.
Since 2005, as part of its technical cooperation work to increase the compliance of
laws with international human rights standards, the OHCHR Regional Office for the Middle
East has been working closely with the Government of Lebanon, ILO and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to alleviate the hardship experienced by domestic
workers in Lebanon. A steering committee was set up to develop a national plan of action.
One of the first major achievements of the committee was the drafting of a unified contract,
which provided a common set of standards to protect domestic migrant workers. In close
consultation with the Ministry of Labour, the Syndicate of Owners of Recruitment
Agencies in Lebanon and the Caritas Lebanon Migrant Centre, and in coordination with
ILO, OHCHR supported the development of a code of conduct for recruiting agencies.
Strengthening the capacity of national and local Serbian authorities to protect the rights of
migrants and refugees
28.
In 2015 and 2016, with the support of OHCHR, the Serbian Protector of Citizens
(Ombudsman) implemented the “Improvement of the protection of refugees and migrants in
the Republic of Serbia” project, which, according to the Government, strengthened the
capacity of national and regional authorities to enhance the realization of rights of refugees
and migrants. As a result, according to the Government, migrants and refugees along the
“Balkan route” could further exercise their rights and the regional cooperation between the
United Nations and the national institutions for the promotion and protection of human
rights was strengthened. In addition, OHCHR supported anti-discrimination training for
representatives of ministries and institutions, organized by the country’s Office for Human
and Minority Rights and Ministry of Labour. 6
2.
Technical cooperation for the establishment and optimal functioning of national
human rights institutions
29.
Technical cooperation to establish and strengthen national human rights institutions
that are constituted and operate in compliance with the principles relating to the status of
national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles) 7
has been a clear priority for OHCHR over the past decade. This technical support has often
been warmly welcomed by the Human Rights Council, including in several recent
resolutions. As seen for example in the Council’s resolution 33/15, assistance from
OHCHR takes multiple forms and encompasses multiple areas of cooperation, ranging from
support for the drafting of legislation for the establishment of a national human rights
institution, to organizing national consultations on the Paris Principles with key
stakeholders including in government, parliament and civil society, to capacity-building for
members and staff of national human rights institutions. OHCHR collaborates with UNDP
6
7
6
Office for Human and Minority Rights response to OHCHR questionnaire, 21 March 2017.
See General Assembly resolution 48/134.
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents