UN HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE FIELD Saint Lucia, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. The trainings focused on discriminatory laws in the region regarding the age of consent and marriage and sodomy and the absence of anti-discriminatory legislation addressing the rights of persons with disabilities and LGBTI persons. OHCHR conducted workshops on the CRPD for government officials in Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Suriname. The workshops contributed to promoting the key principles and core obligations of CRPD and facilitating exchange among government officials on legislation and policy review. As of December, the draft disabilities policy was pending before the Cabinet in Saint Kitts and Nevis and disabilities legislation was pending in Barbados and Suriname. UN HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE FIELD CENTRAL AMERICA Type of engagement Regional Office Countries of engagement Belize, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic (since mid-2018), El Salvador, Nicaragua and Panama Year established 2007 Field office(s) Panama City, Panama Staff as of 31 December 2018 12 Total income US$1,205,879 XB requirements 2018 US$603,600 Total XB expenditure US$1,544,545 Non-personnel PSC† 51% 38% 11% $785,051 $582,139 $177,354 US$892,314 Personnel ND3 – In three Caribbean countries (Barbados, Jamaica, Grenada) legislative change and/or policy reform regarding domestic violence, marital rape and/or sexual harassment is underway. The Office contributed to increasing the level of compliance of sexual harassment and marital rape legislation in the subregion with international human rights norms and standards. Both Barbados and Dominica amended their respective Sexual Offenses Act to criminalize marital rape. Barbados recently introduced sexual harassment legislation that is applicable in the workplace. In 2019, the Office will work with UN Women to train government officials in charge of the implementation of the new legislation. Finally, OHCHR facilitated a consultation at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on the development of the organization’s sexual harassment policy. It is expected that the Office will facilitate CCJ consultations in 2019 until a policy is adopted. 228 UN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2018 The capacity of the Attorney General´s Office to investigate human rights violations that occurred during the armed conflict increased through three specialized trainings conducted by the Office. Participants also received advice on using the military as the basis and support for judicial investigations. Personnel Total RB expenditure Non-personnel 84% 16% $748,644 $143,670 Key OMP pillars in 2018 † Please refer to Data sources and notes on p.191. KEY PILLAR RESULTS: Accountability (A) A2 – Processes for election of magistrates to higher courts in the region have been introduced in order to guarantee the independence and impartiality of the courts; they comply with international standards. OHCHR worked to ensure that transitional justice mechanisms conforming to international human rights norms and standards are in place and functioning by providing technical assistance, training and mediation. Prosecution of Crimes against Humanity and War Crimes Constituting Serious Violations of Human Rights Committed in the El Salvador Armed Conflict, which was adopted by the Attorney General. This instrument is crucial to combating impunity and guaranteeing redress for victims. Following the declaration of the unconstitutionality of the Amnesty Law in El Salvador, OHCHR provided technical, legal and political support to the Attorney General´s Office and to civil society for the investigation and criminal prosecution of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the context of the armed conflict. After a research and consultation process that OHCHR undertook in collaboration with prosecutors, victims and civil society organizations, the Office elaborated the Policy on the Investigation and Criminal In addition, the Office organized a high-level seminar on the implementation of recommendations issued by the Truth Commission and one on transitional justice and reconciliation, which included the participation of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence. More than 100 participants from public institutions, the academic sector and civil society attended the seminars and valued them as instrumental in the promotion of victims´ rights. OHCHR also organized a bilateral meeting between the Offices of the Attorney General in El Salvador and in Guatemala to promote the mutual sharing of good practices and lessons learned in the area of transitional justice, thereby increasing El Salvador’s capacity to investigate crimes against humanity. Throughout the reporting period, OHCHR acted as an intermediary and advocate between civil society organizations and the Attorney General in El Salvador to address issues of vital relevance in transitional justice. OHCHR also organized two training courses for CSOs on transitional justice to increase their capacity to represent the interests of victims in criminal matters. The Office further promoted the functioning of oversight, accountability and protection mechanisms in conformity with international human rights standards. In September, OHCHR advocated for the election of the magistrates of El Salvador’s Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice to be carried out in accordance with international standards on judicial independence. To this end, OHCHR sent a letter to the Chair of the Political Committee of the Legislative Assembly, expressing concern about the delay in the appointment of magistrates and urging that magistrates be promptly selected in accordance with international human rights standards. Similarly, the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers spoke out publicly at the request of OHCHR. The magistrates were finally appointed in November. A3 – The decisions of judicial institutions increasingly reference international human rights standards and principles of gender equality in cases of femicide and violence against women. OHCHR promoted the use of national protection systems in compliance with international human rights norms and standards through capacity-building and advocacy efforts. OHCHR organized two national workshops on judicial gender stereotyping, in Uruguay and Panama, which contributed to strengthening the capacities of key judicial officials. Participants also discussed the role of the judiciary in upholding women’s rights by addressing wrongful gender stereotyping when considering cases of violence and sexual attacks against women and girls, including femicide, in line with international human rights standards. OHCHR, in cooperation with UN Women, promoted the application of the Latin American Model Protocol for the investigation of gender-related killings of women (femicide/feminicide) and its virtual course among judicial authorities in different countries of the region, including Argentina, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico and Panama. It continued its advocacy role during the second meeting of the Gender Working Group of the IberoAmerican Association of Public Ministries. In addition, OHCHR supported national adaptation processes. Peace and Security (PS) PS5 – The Regional Office has increased its capacity to gather, analyse and manage information relevant to early warning, advocacy and response to critical situations of violence and insecurity; as a result, it has contributed significantly to key regional and national processes and discussions. Relevant security institutions receive political and technical advice enabling them to protect citizens’ security in a manner that complies with international human rights standards. OHCHR worked to significantly improve the level of compliance of legislation and policy with international human rights norms and standards in specific policy areas by monitoring and reporting on the human rights situation, providing technical advice and promoting human rights issues. OHCHR has been monitoring and reporting on the human rights situation in Nicaragua since the beginning of the social protests in April by remotely collecting and cross-checking information, including open source investigations; maintaining close contact with key national civil society actors and key regional NGOs; publicly reporting on the human rights situation in the country, including to United Nations and regional early warning mechanisms; UN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2018 229