A/HRC/27/41 I. Introduction and methodology 1. The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 23/19, in which the Council requested the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) to prepare a report, to be submitted to it at its twenty-seventh session, on technical assistance and capacity-building options for integrating human rights into national policies, drawing from worldwide best practices in the field, with a view to supporting States in developing and applying suitable methodologies to that end, upon request and according to their own particular needs and priorities. 2. In resolution 23/19, the Council recognized that State action aimed at the full realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national level was made most effective by drawing up and putting into practice national policies to protect and promote human rights in conformity with their obligations under international human rights law. 3. OHCHR cooperates with States and national stakeholders to strengthen national frameworks to promote and protect human rights. This is often done in synergy and partnership with other United Nations entities and international actors, including regional organizations, national human rights institutions, civil society and academia. 4. The present report contains a selection of practices, developed in the context of OHCHR technical cooperation programmes, that have proven effective and have yielded visible results in supporting State efforts to align national policies, strategies and laws with international human rights norms and principles, recommendations and commitments. 5. By strengthening the capacity of State institutions and officials, and bringing national systems and strategies into line with human rights standards, positive change can be achieved to ensure that all human rights are respected, protected and fulfilled. 6. The information contained in the report is based also on the experience of joint efforts under various assistance frameworks and cooperation with regional and subregional organizations, in particular support and results achieved under OHCHR technical cooperation programmes during the period from 2011 to 2014. It illustrates the types of options available to States in integrating human rights into national policies and/or in developing national policies in line with international human rights standards and their international obligations, with the support of OHCHR. 7. In the preparation of the report, information on different experiences, including methodologies used and lesson learned, was gathered from OHCHR headquarters and field presences, regional and country offices, human rights components of United Nations peace missions and human rights advisers to United Nations country teams, working closely with host governments. II. Framework for technical cooperation 8. Technical cooperation, which refers to both technical assistance and capacitybuilding, is an integral part of OHCHR programmes. 9. Technical cooperation is aimed at identifying and addressing knowledge and capacity gaps by facilitating constructive dialogue and positive change with national counterparts. It is conducted by OHCHR at the request and with the agreement of States and includes a comprehensive assessment of the human rights situation in a given country, with a view to aligning laws, policies, institutions and practices with international standards and obligations. 3