Statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein at the informal briefing on the Secretary-General’s draft Strategic framework for the period 2018-2019

Geneva, 12 May 2016

I’m pleased to be here today to present to you the proposed Programme 20, Human Rights, of the Secretary-General’s Strategic Framework for the period 2018-2019.  This follows up on the Human Rights Council President’s Statement of 11 October 2010 (PRST 15/2) in which the High Commissioner is invited to present this document to the Council prior to its submission to the Committee for Programme and Coordination.

The proposed Strategic Framework will be reviewed by the Committee for Programme and Coordination – which is the main subsidiary organ of the ECOSOC and the General Assembly for planning, programming and coordination -- at its 56th session in New York, in June.  On June 6, I will present the document to the CPC by video conference. By 24 June, the CPC will conclude its review and submit its report to the General Assembly.

In keeping with the Human Rights Council President’s Statement, and following the practice initiated previously by my Office, I have brought the proposed Strategic Framework to the attention of the members of the Council through a letter to its President that I sent on 26 April. Also in line with that President’s Statement, I will compile and submit to the Committee for Programme and Coordination, through the Programme Planning and Budget Division of the United Nations Secretariat, any written comments received by May 20.

As it is the case for all other UN programmes, the Secretary-General's proposed strategic framework for human rights is a programmatic document that includes the following elements:

• An overall orientation, as a high-level synopsis of the programme;
• The objectives, expected accomplishments, indicators of achievement and strategy for each of the four sub-programmes; and
• A list of the resolutions by the intergovernmental bodies providing the mandates for the programme.

I want to emphasize that this proposed Strategic Framework for 2018-2019 represents a continuation of the programme plan and priorities that were approved by the General Assembly for the period 2016-2017.  The few changes that have been introduced update the document in light of relevant General Assembly and Human Rights Council resolutions.

As requested by General Assembly resolution 70/8, endorsing  the CPC report and recommendations  (A/70/16, para 85),  OHCHR has revised “the logical frameworks  in order to more clearly indicate the impact of the activities implemented”.  Consequently, some of the expected accomplishments and indicators have been slightly reformulated to ensure they describe and measure “the positive change for the end-users of the sub-programme’s outputs” and not just OHCHR’s work per se.  Also, references to the interventions the Office intends to put in place to achieve the expected accomplishments have been moved from the logical framework to the strategy section of the document.  These revisions are of a purely technical nature and do not change the content of the programme.  

My Office is looking forward to engage in discussions with the CPC experts during the review of the document in order to ensure our proposal meets their expectations and complies with their overall parameters in this regard.  

As stated in the overall orientation of the programme, in implementing the Strategic Framework, my Office will continue to be guided by the principles of universality, objectivity, impartiality, indivisibility and non-selectivity. In order to increase OHCHR’s organizational coherence by more efficiently and effectively integrating the work done within Headquarters and between Headquarter and  the field, and as now stated in the overall orientation of the programme, all Divisions will closely collaborate in the implementation of each of the sub-programmes, which are not anymore the responsibility of a single Division.  

Under Sub-programme 1: Human rights mainstreaming, right to development, and research and analysis, OHCHR will continue its efforts to further integrate human rights into all relevant areas of work of the UN system. OHCHR’s strategy in this area is to strengthen partnerships with UN agencies to raise awareness and build capacities of all UN staff members on human rights issues.  OHCHR will support the implementation of the right to development, in accordance with the Declaration on the Right to Development, the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action and other relevant mandates. The Office will also continue its research and analysis of human rights issues and its consolidation, further development, strengthening and application of substantive human rights expertise and methodologies. As in previous biennia, OHCHR will provide advisory services and training to States on measures to be taken to combat all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

In addition to the technical adjustments to improve the logical frameworks, changes in this sub-programme update the text in light of new intergovernmental mandates such as the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Under Sub-programme 2: Supporting human rights treaty bodies, OHCHR will continue to fully support the treaty bodies’ work and their efforts to improve and enhance their working methods. Work in this area will focus on implementation of the outcome of the treaty body strengthening process, including renewed efforts to support State parties on their reporting obligations and on follow up to the recommendations.  

The strategy has been amended to fully integrate the content of the General Assembly resolution 68/268 on strengthening and enhancing the effective functioning of the human rights treaty body system. In addition, the document includes now a reference to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, the Voluntary Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, and the Special Fund under the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. This amendment records the important work done by the Office in administering these funds.               

Under Sub-programme 3: Advisory services, technical cooperation and field activities, we will continue our meaningful engagement with Member States and other relevant stakeholders, including civil society actors, in order to support the implementation of human rights standards at the country and regional levels. The strategy includes providing States and stakeholders at the national and regional levels with human rights legal and policy-oriented advice, as well as education and training. This will be done through mutually agreed technical cooperation programmes to strengthen the administration of justice and develop effective national human rights protection systems, including through robust national human rights institutions, human rights education programmes and comprehensive national human rights plans of action. The strategy also includes work on strengthening UN efforts for peace, security and development by enhancing the capacity of United Nations country teams, peacekeeping operations and peacebuilding activities.

Finally, under Sub-programme 4:  Supporting the Human Rights Council, its subsidiary bodies and mechanisms, OHCHR will continue providing strengthened support to the Human Rights Council and its subsidiary bodies and mechanisms, including the Advisory Committee, the complaint procedure, the special procedures and the Universal Periodic Review.  The outlined strategy includes strengthening partnerships to support follow up to the outcomes of these mechanisms.

Sub-programmes 3 and 4 do not present any substantive changes but are intended in both cases to improve the respective logical frameworks.

The Committee for Programme and Coordination will be reviewing the proposed strategic framework in June.  OHCHR is looking forward to engaging in a constructive discussion with Member States here in Geneva, and at the Committee for Programme and Coordination in New York, in order to ensure that the Secretary General’s Strategic Framework for human rights faithfully translates into effective action, the decisions of Member States, as reflected in the resolutions of United Nations intergovernmental bodies.  This is a document that simply reflects already-approved mandates. It should be possible to reach consensus on its content and I look forward to your support in this regard.

Today’s meeting is one of the several meetings with Member States that I am convening this year, in keeping with my commitment to transparency and open dialogue. We will be meeting again on 31 May for the launch of the Annual Report and in July at the Technical Briefing on the content of that report. I intend to use the opportunity of the launch of the Annual Report to provide more detail information on the Change Initiative.  I am looking forward to that opportunity to seek your advice and support for the process.

Today, I will be happy to hear your comments and to respond to any further questions you might have on the proposed Programme 20, Human Rights, of the Secretary-General’s Strategic Framework for the period 2018-2019 and to relay to the CPC any written comments received by May 20.  

Thank you.