A/HRC/34/74 31. The existing international human rights standards and protection framework defines the fundamental human rights norms that everyone should respect and protect. The framework has evolved substantially since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, through new treaties and new human rights mechanisms. To be effective, technical cooperation programmes in the field of human rights should be therefore solidly based on this international framework so as to ensure implementation of the acquired obligations by duty-bearers through capacity-building and strengthening, and also by empowering rights-holders to claim their rights. 32. The Board considers that, for technical cooperation in the field of human rights to have effective results that are sustainable for the promotion and protection of human rights, it should be aimed at translating into reality the obligations and commitments of Member States within the international human rights legal framework. Member States rightly face increasing requirements and expectations when implementing their treaty obligations, and also with regard to the result of their engagement with international and regional mechanisms and the recommendations of the international mechanisms. Reporting obligations under the international human rights system have also been increasing met as a result of the strengthened system following the treaties that have entered into force over the past decade. 33. At its field sessions, the Board has been able to observe how the technical support provided by OHCHR for legislative and policy development and reform, and for capacitybuilding for rights holders and civil society, is in practical terms informed and based on standards and recommendations. In the different countries visited by the Board, the members confirmed that a human rights-based approach works most effectively when evidence-based information and credible and validated data on the situation and challenges on the ground are carefully analysed on the basis of international human rights standards and are used to guide the formulation and implementation of public policies. In Ukraine, government agencies, the United Nations country team and development partners all emphasized how much they relied on the fact-based and up-to-date monitoring reports of OHCHR as the basis for designing their own response policies and programmes. In Mexico, the Voluntary Fund has supported the OHCHR country office and country partners in human rights information and data-gathering. During its visit to Mexico, the Board was able to discuss with Federal and State authorities the relevance of this information in order to reach a solid diagnosis based on the recommendations and observations made by international mechanisms for the development of sound human rights plans of action. In South America, the regional office has been successful in developing and promoting a database of recommendations that encourages implementation and allows monitoring of progress made. In Guatemala, the country office has worked closely with governmental agencies to develop and monitor plans for the implementation of recommendations. In Cambodia, the country office has made a particularly important contribution to follow-up on recommendations made by all human rights mechanisms in the area of justice system reform, prison reform and the implementation of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the Optional Protocol thereto. 34. The utility, relevance and strength of the existing international human rights framework, and in particular the recommendations made by international human rights mechanisms, should not be underestimated in the efforts made to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Developments Goals. The technical support and added value afforded by OHCHR are paramount to ensure a full understanding and utility of the framework in the development and monitoring of implementation plans and in the measurement of results to achieve the Sustainable Developments Goals. OHCHR technical cooperation programmes should make a practical contribution to ensure that the standards and recommendations of international and regional 10