A/HRC/31/80
rights situation in a given country, and seek to align laws, policies, institutions and practices
with international standards and obligations. Technical assistance and capacity-building
complement other key OHCHR functions, as set out by the General Assembly in its
resolution 48/141.
15.
Supporting good technical cooperation work requires understanding better the real
situations faced by those persons and groups affected and discussing possible workable
solutions with them and all relevant actors. OHCHR released a short documentary film in
2015, “I Am Not Here”, in collaboration with Oscar-nominated director Ashvin Kumar,
that follows the stories of three women in cities in Switzerland, the United States and
Malaysia. It highlights the situation of undocumented women migrant domestic workers,
millions of whom live in the shadows. The aim of making the film with all partners
involved was to give a voice to those who are too often silenced, and to provide a platform
for those who do not dare to come out of hiding. Around the world, millions of
undocumented migrant domestic workers – women, men and even children – live their lives
in the shadows, with no access services that others take for granted, and afraid to complain
when they are ill-treated. The film was launched on the margins of the thirtieth session of
the Human Rights Council, and has been screened to audiences in New York, Bangkok,
Mumbai, London and New Delhi.
16.
Since the creation of the mandate of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights, OHCHR has worked closely with States to support their efforts to advance
the enjoyment of human rights by all persons, including migrants. Its work has included
advisory services, including technical advice on institution-building and strengthening
legislation and policies; training; awareness-raising initiatives; national workshops;
dialogue facilitation; provision of documentation, publications and web tools; and the
sharing of good practices from other countries. OHCHR, including through its field
presences, promotes and supports the efforts of States to apply a human rights-based
approach to migration. Numerous United Nations organizations and regional bodies work
with and support States through technical cooperation in the area of migration. OHCHR
therefore strives to ensure that its support falls within the High Commissioner’s mandate
and in areas where the Office’s expertise adds value and has a comparative advantage. The
Office works closely with all relevant United Nations agencies and regional organizations
to ensure that the support they provide at the request of States is complementary and
effective.
17.
Through its field presences and headquarters, OHCHR engages directly with
governments and actively cooperates with national stakeholders to promote and protect
human rights, not least by applying mechanisms that protect marginalized groups at
particular risk, such as migrants. Its technical support applies a human rights-based
approach that upholds the universality, inalienability, indivisibility, interdependence and
interrelatedness of all human rights, thereby ensuring that decisions and objectives are
achieved in a participative and inclusive manner that respects the rule of law, is accountable
and transparent, and avoids discrimination.
18.
The Board of Trustees that oversees the Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation
in the Field of Human Rights and the Voluntary Fund for Financial and Technical
Assistance for the Implementation of the Universal Periodic Review (two key financial
sources for OHCHR technical assistance) advises the Office on policy and strategic
orientation with regard to technical cooperation. During its field sessions, the Board has
discussed migration with the main counterparts and observed examples of cooperation.
Some of these, in Mauritania, Mexico and Tunisia, are described in the present report. The
OHCHR performance monitoring system, a results-based management tool, also provided
information for this report on how and how well results were reached. The system has
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