A/HRC/26/20
human rights would require the involvement and support of stakeholders outside the United
Nations (A/HRC/21/21 and Corr.1, para. 74). The Secretary-General recommended (ibid.,
para. 101) that, given the scale of the implementation challenge and the resource
implications of meeting it:
The feasibility of establishing a global fund on business and human rights linked to
the United Nations, with multi-stakeholder engagement, should be considered. The
primary purpose of such a fund would be, both within and outside of the United
Nations system, to enhance the capacity of stakeholders seeking to advance the
implementation of the Guiding Principles.
62.
In response to the request from the Council in its resolution 21/5, the SecretaryGeneral undertook feasibility study, the full version of which is contained in an addendum
to the present report, with the aim of advancing multi-stakeholder dialogue and action
concerning a new fund in the area of business and human rights. The main findings from
the study are presented below.
63.
The study reviews a variety of existing United Nations funds in the area of human
rights, including voluntary funds that focus on providing financial support to civil society
actors who assist victims of human rights violations, voluntary funds to support OHCHR
activities at Headquarters and in the field, and other funds, including the Special Fund
established by the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel,
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. All funds administered by OHCHR are
governed in accordance with the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and
may receive voluntary contributions from Governments, intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations and other private or public entities.19
64.
The study also examines other funds managed by other United Nations entities, for
example the United Nations Democracy Fund, established to strengthen the voice of civil
society, promote human rights and encourage participation in democratic processes.
Another model is provided by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund, which provides
resources to the United Nations Secretariat and agencies for the implementation of projects
developed in identified priority countries.
65.
The experience of these and other United Nations trust funds should inform further
dialogue amongst Member States and other actors concerning the potential for a new
dedicated fund to advance implementation of the Guiding Principles.
66.
In addition to established voluntary trust fund mechanisms, the United Nations has
continued to expand the reach and impact of its work through the creation of new publicprivate partnerships aimed at advancing key international objectives, for example, in the
area of public health with the establishment of funds such as the Global Fund to Fight
AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization.
Those approaches should also be considered.
67.
Based on informal consultations, written inputs20 and a formal consultation during
the second annual Forum on Business and Human Rights in December 2013, the study
finds that there is broad support from all stakeholder groups for the proposal that a new
fund in the area of business and human rights would be a potentially useful mechanism.
However, there is also a diversity of views concerning potential priorities and governance
19
20
14
A summary of all voluntary funds administered by OHCHR is available from:
www2.ohchr.org/english/ohchrreport2012/web_en/allegati/12_Funds_administered_by_OHCHR.pdf.
As part of preparing the study, OHCHR issued an invitation to all Member States to provide written
inputs on the issue and invited all other relevant stakeholders to provide input through a public call
for inputs on the OHCHR website.
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