A/HRC/34/74
human rights systems inform the development of national plans of action and of useful
indicators.
35.
The Board, through its experience on the ground, is convinced that technical support
and capacity-building programmes directed at national institutions, including legislative,
judiciary and national human rights institutions fully compliant with the principles relating
to the status of national institutions (the Paris Principles), or institutions that are moving
towards full compliance with the principles, are strategically critical to ensure adequate
follow-up to and monitoring of implementation of recommendations made by international
and regional human rights systems. For example, during its visit to Ukraine in February
2016, the Board met with the members of the Ombudsman’s office to discuss the
opportunities for cooperation with the OHCHR mission in strengthening the national
protection system. Following the interest expressed by the Ombudsman’s Office in
strengthening the mechanisms for follow-up on the recommendations of the universal
periodic review and other human rights mechanisms, an interest also shared by the Ministry
of Justice, the Board provided information about the possibilities of additional support
through the Voluntary Fund for Financial and Technical Assistance in the Implementation
of the Universal Periodic Review, which could complement the continuing collaboration
within the country. It also shared some of its recent experiences in other regions. Similarly,
during its visit to Mauritania in January 2013, and to Cambodia in February 2015, the
Board was impressed by the support provided by the OHCHR country office to the national
human rights institution and to the justice system, respectively.
36.
In drawing attention to the importance of promoting and monitoring implementation
of recommendations of international mechanisms, the Board emphasizes that promotion
and monitoring are not ends in themselves but means to achieve the goal of full compliance
with international human rights obligations. The focus of monitoring should be measuring
and reporting on changes in the enjoyment of all human rights. Monitoring is a tool for both
evaluating past performance and identifying future measures required for greater
compliance. Monitoring is of no benefit without evaluation of the past and strategizing for
the future. The Board considers that technical cooperation should enable this kind of past
and future-oriented monitoring.
37.
Since its establishment, the Voluntary Fund has supported numerous programmes on
the ground that refer to international human rights standards and the recommendations
emanating from the international human rights system as a basis for planning and
programme development. The development of databases of recommendations of
international mechanisms will contribute to this. Databases group recommendations
thematically, enabling easier identification of both critical issues and priorities, and the
development of strategies to address them. For example, the database developed by the
South American regional office and implemented in several countries in the region has
proved highly successful.
38.
In the current implementation phase of the OHCHR cycle for 2014-2017, OHCHR
field presences resourced by the Voluntary Fund have produced many concrete results
through this type of cooperation. Mechanisms for follow-up to recommendations made by
international human rights mechanisms or on national human rights plans of action
reflecting those recommendations have been established or further developed in a number
of countries as a result of technical support provided by OHCHR presences supported by
the Fund. In the Plurinational State of Bolivia, for example, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
the General State Prosecutor and the Ministry of Justice signed an agreement for the
creation of a coordinating body and for the development of a computerized monitoring
system, both launched at the end of 2015 and early in January 2016 to support the followup to the recommendations accepted by the State. In Mexico, local human rights
programmes were developed or strengthened, through a participatory process, in the States
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