A/HRC/19/21
OHCHR, with the support of United Nations training entities, have embarked on a training
programme for all staff members. OHCHR also actively participated in the consultation
with United Nations entities on the system-wide plan of action on gender equality and
women’s empowerment facilitated by UN-Women.
46.
Following the report of the high-level panel on remedies and reparations for victims
of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, my Office and UN-Women
embarked on a joint provincial-level project to strengthen reparations programmes and
initiatives for victims of sexual violence, which focuses on accountability and access to
justice and the social dimension underlying the causes of sexual violence.
47.
OHCHR, in collaboration with the Office of the Special Representative of the
Secretary-General on Sexual Violence and United Nations Action against Sexual Violence,
provided United Nations peace missions and country teams with operational guidance and
support for the implementation of Security Council resolutions on women, peace and
security (1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009) and 1960 (2010)) with a view to
strengthening responses, ensuring consistent and effective information-gathering and
investigations, fighting impunity and promoting access to justice for victims. To this end,
the Office also continued to provide the team of experts on the rule of law with support ,
pursuant to Security Council resolution 1888 (2009).
4.
Discrimination against persons with disabilities, older persons and persons affected by
HIV/AIDS
48.
As at the end of November, 106 States were parties to the Convention on the Rights
of Persons with Disabilities, and 63 States had ratified the Optional Protocol thereto.
OHCHR increased its support for the Committee , which has begun considering the reports
of States parties and processing individual communications submitted under the Optional
Protocol.
49.
In addition, OHCHR continued to develop and disseminate tools and knowledge
about the Committee, advocates for disability rights, and supports OHCHR and United
Nations field presences, which are actively involved in supporting the Committee by
advocating for ratification, supporting treaty body reporting, collecting and analysing data
on disability rights, and supporting civil society organizations and law reform efforts.
50.
OHCHR was one of the main actors developing the multi-donor trust fund on the
Committee, launched in December. The aim of the fund is to sponsor projects strengthening
national capacity for the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities. OHCHR continues to co-chair the Inter-Agency Support Group on the
Convention and is involved in the Bureau of the Conference of States parties.
51.
At my initiative, an inter-departmental task force on accessibility was established to
ensure the participation of persons with disabilities in the work of the United Nations,
including delegates, staff members and visitors.
52.
OHCHR supported the open-ended working group created by the General Assembly
in its resolution 65/182, the purpose of which is to strengthen the protection of the human
rights of older persons, jointly with the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
53.
OHCHR was involved in the General Assembly high-level meeting marking 30
years since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The Assembly adopted a new
declaration on HIV/AIDS aimed at guiding the global response to the epidemic and
emphasizing the importance of advancing human rights in order to reverse and eliminate it.
54.
OHCHR also supported the work of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law,
which examines the links between legal responses, human rights and HIV. The
Commission’s recommendations will be finalized in 2012 and should inform future national
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