OHCHR in State of Palestine

Profile

The UN Human Rights Office in the occupied Palestinian territory is the only internationally-mandated entity to monitor and report publicly on the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), and is the official United Nations voice on human rights in the oPt. The Office is based in Ramallah and has a sub-office in Gaza, and field offices in East Jerusalem and Hebron.

The Office implements the broad mandate of the High Commissioner to promote and protect the effective enjoyment and full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all people, without discrimination, in the oPt. This mandate includes monitoring and reporting, technical assistance, and capacity building. In addition, the Office is specifically mandated by Human Rights Council resolutions S-9/1 and S-12/1 of 2009 to report regularly on the human rights situation in the oPt, including East Jerusalem. It also has annual mandates to monitor and publicly report on developments related to settlements and on accountability.

Pursuant to its mandate, OHCHR submits periodic reports of the High Commissioenr for Human Rights to the Human Rights Council and leads in the preparation of the reports of the Secretary-General on human rights to the General Assembly and other United Nations bodies. In addition to the High Commissioner for human rights, the Special Rapporteur on the situation on human rights in the opT, and the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories, issue regular reports on the human rights situation in the OpT.

In fulfilling its mandate, the Office is guided by the principles and spirit of international human rights law and international humanitarian law. Respect for human dignity and non-discrimination is at the core of our work, and we are committed to the values of impartiality, objectivity, accountability and professionalism.

OHCHR oPt is involved in the whole spectrum of United Nations engagement from peace and security and humanitarian response to the development agenda, and brings a human rights perspective to the work of the United Nations in these areas. OHCHR oPt is a member of the United Nations Country Team and the Humanitarian Country Team, and leads the Humanitarian Protection Cluster in the oPt under the overall leadership of the Humanitarian Coordinator.

OHCHR oPt works for all rights holders and victims of human rights violations, with particular attention to marginalized and vulnerable groups. In doing so, we work with Israeli and Palestinian authorities that have legal obligations under international law, including executive, legislative and judicial bodies, with Palestinians, Israeli and international NGOs and community-based organizations, and with the Palestinian national human rights institution. We work in partnership with other members of United Nations family and international human rights mechanisms, and the international community.

UN Human Rights Focus Areas

Thematic pillars

• Peace and Security: Early warning, prevention & protection of human rights in situations of conflict & insecurity
• Accountability: Strengthening rule of law and accountability for human rights violations
• Non-Discrimination: Enhancing equality and countering discrimination
• Mechanisms: Increasing implementation of the outcomes of the international human rights mechanisms

Shifts

• Prevention
• Civic space
• Inequalities

Spotlight populations

• Women
• Youth
• Persons with Disabilities

Last reviewed: May 2021