Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Mandate
The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is a department of the United Nations Secretariat and is mandated to promote and protect the enjoyment and full realization, by all people, of all rights established in the Charter of the United Nations and in international human rights laws and treaties. The mandate includes preventing human rights violations, securing respect for all human rights, promoting international cooperation to protect human rights, coordinating related activities throughout United Nations, and strengthening and streamlining the United Nations system in the field of human rights. In addition to its mandated responsibilities, the Office leads efforts to integrate a human rights approach within all work carried out by the United Nations agencies.The mission of the OHCHR is also to help empower people to realize their rights and to assist those responsible for upholding such rights in ensuring that they are implemented.
In carrying out its mission OHCHR will:
- Give priority to addressing the most pressing human rights violations, both acute and chronic, particularly those that put life in imminent peril;
- Focus attention on those who are at risk and vulnerable on multiple fronts;
- Pay equal attention to the realization of civil, cultural, economic, political, and social rights, including the right to development;
Operationally, OHCHR works with governments, legislatures, courts, national institutions, civil society, regional and international organizations, and the United Nations system to develop and strengthen capacity, particularly at the national level, for the protection of human rights in accordance with international norms.
Institutionally, OHCHR is committed to strengthening the United Nations human rights programme and to providing it with the highest quality support. OHCHR is committed to working closely with its United Nations partners to ensure that human rights form the bedrock of the work of the United Nations.
In Kosovo the OHCHR Office is currently be strengthened through the recruitment of additional staff with a target of seven staff members by summer 2008.
The current programme of the office includes:
- Monitoring the human rights situation (mainly by complementing the work of other offices which are performing human rights situation or in support of the UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies or Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council)
- Supporting the process of reporting to the UN Treaty Bodies by UNMIK, including through support to “shadow reporting” by civil society
- Advising UNMIK and local institutions on human rights issues, including on compliance of legislation with international human rights standards and providing training to selected staff.
- Supporting the Ombudsperson institution, particularly the process of appointing a local Ombudsperson.
- Providing support and advice on human rights issues to the other UN Agencies working in Kosovo.
Contact in Kosovo:
kosovo@ohchr.org
Tel.+381 38 249 177
Fax. +381 38 249 176
Rr./ul. Luan Haradinaj, pn
Prishtinë/Priština 10000, Kosovo
More on OHCHR: www.ohchr.org