A/HRC/43/68 under the United Nations Sustainable Development Group strategy to enhance human rights capacity in the United Nations on the ground through the Voluntary Fund. That human rights capacity supports the entire United Nations system in enhancing opportunities to reinforce the human rights analysis required to better support national partners through technical support, early warning and prevention. In the context of the widespread demonstrations in Malawi since the presidential elections held in May 2019, the Board was informed about the technical cooperation programme designed by the human rights adviser, with national partners, to prevent serious human rights violations and encourage peaceful solutions to the unrest. An analysis of the situation from a human rights perspective identified weaknesses and gaps in the human rights protection system, as well as a number of human rights-related root causes to the civil unrest. That work has resulted in new technical cooperation engagement between the United Nations and the police service, with civil society and with the national human rights institution. In addition, the United Nations is integrating an understanding of the human rights-related root causes of the civil unrest into their programming to support the Government of Malawi to build an environment that sustains peace. 23. In South Africa, the Board met with representatives of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, the South African Human Rights Commission, the United Nations country team, the diplomatic community and a variety of civil society organizations. In Mozambique, the Board met with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the National Human Rights Commission, the United Nations country team, the diplomatic community and civil society organizations. From the discussions the Board held with counterparts in both countries, it was evident that the Office was fully present and that its expertise was recognized, for example, in the engagement with the human rights mechanisms and in particular in providing assistance with fulfilling reporting obligations in a timely manner. It is also recognized for its support on early warning and prevention, expanding civic space and participation, addressing discrimination and integrating human rights into the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. That has been the case in South Africa, where the Office has contributed to the response to gender-based violence, gender-related killings and xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals. Southern Africa is a region with countries that have the highest levels of inequality in the world, and there are real opportunities to demonstrate how human rights considerations addressed from the outset can serve to accelerate progress towards the implementation of the Goals. It also reconfirms the need to address development challenges as more than economic challenges and the value of centring human rights in addressing entrenched inequality, which acts as a barrier to development. It also underscores the importance of the Regional Office for Southern Africa and the opportunities that should be maximized. 24. The meetings and discussions with government representatives from the Ministries of Justice of South Africa and of Mozambique confirmed the extremely valuable contributions of the technical expertise provided by OHCHR in assisting States with the ratification and incorporation into national law of the international human rights treaties and the development of policies and practices aimed at the realization of human rights for all. In particular, the important role of the Office in supporting the States concerned with their overdue reporting obligations and facilitating consultations and coordination was highlighted. The Board discussed those expectations also in the light of the implementation of the recommendations received in the context of the universal periodic review and the actions towards the implementation thereof. 25. In South Africa, the Board was very pleased to learn of the progress made regarding the Prevention and Combating of Torture of Persons Act, 2013, to give effect to the obligations of South Africa under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the support of the State for the ratification of the Optional Protocol thereto, as part of the accepted recommendations arising from the universal periodic review, and the technical support available from OHCHR in that regard. Similarly, the Board was informed by the national partners in South Africa of the adoption of the national action plan against racism and discrimination and the ongoing actions to establish the required structures for its implementation, for which the support from the Regional Office is expected. The interest in establishing a national mechanism for reporting 6