UN HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE FIELD housing and earthquake response to their agendas. In 2018, CESCR reviewed the combined fifth and sixth periodic reports of Mexico. It has been 10 years since their last review. For the first time, the Office facilitated a dialogue between CESCR and CSOs on the list of issues. The Office also collaborated with CSOs and the national human rights institution to organize an event to present the Committee’s concluding observations to the wider public. A brochure was distributed that summarized the reporting process and outlined the recommendations that were issued by the Committee to facilitate their use by different kinds of actors. OHCHR documented several cases of communities that lacked access to water that reinforced the findings of CESCR and the Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation. The Office promoted the use of the recommendations issued by these international human rights mechanisms to address the requests of the communities. Development (D) D2 – Businesses, especially businesses in the energy sector, increasingly apply the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, notably in their due diligence procedures. Through technical advice and advocacy, OHCHR aimed to contribute to the increased compliance of legislation and policy on business and human rights with international human rights norms and standards. In 2018, OHCHR initiated a series of meetings with energy sector companies to open a communication channel and present OHCHR’s work and mandate; share 246 UN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2018 UN HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE FIELD international standards and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs); and exchange relevant information. The Office also facilitated a workshop with private renewable energy companies on the UN human rights system and the UNGPs, the rights of indigenous peoples and due diligence principles. A seminar with corporate members of the Mining Chamber of Mexico on the application of the UNGPs, as well as the role of human rights defenders and organizations, represented a first step in a sector which is responsible for the greatest number of human rights violations. OHCHR provided technical assistance to Grupo México, Mexico’s largest mining company, which was responsible for one of Mexico’s worst environmental disasters, the massive leak of toxic materials into the Sonora River. This had a dramatic impact on human rights of entire communities, as well as for other human rights challenges. The Office advised the company on the incorporation of a human rights-based approach into their community involvement policies, the development of a complaint and remedy system and the possible application of a due diligence policy in the future. The NMRF database will be launched in 2019. As a result of technical support for the development of the NMRFs, as well as regular interactions with key counterparts, the Government of Peru developed a draft protocol for the establishment of an NMRF, expected in 2019. Furthermore, following a series of workshops on treaty body reporting that were facilitated by the Office, Bolivia and Brazil expressed interest in exploring the establishment of permanent structures for reporting and follow-up. SOUTH AMERICA Type of engagement Regional Office Countries of engagement Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela Year established 2009 Field office(s) Santiago, Chile with Human Rights Advisers in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay UN partnership framework n/a Staff as of 31 December 2018 9 Total income US$956,263 XB requirements 2018 US$1,320,400 Total XB expenditure US$867,189 Personnel Non-personnel PSC† 72% 17% 11% $624,646 $142,872 $99,671 Total RB expenditure M2 – Civil society organizations report regularly to UN mechanisms, participate in sessions (including through the use of technology), and use concluding observations and reports for advocacy and follow-up purposes. US$1,191,537 Personnel Nonpersonnel 89% 11% $1,056,998 $134,539 OHCHR supported civil society organizations and UN Country Teams (UNCTs) in the submission of reports to a number of international human rights mechanisms. This was done by building their capacities in relation to the reporting procedures and deploying Human Rights Advisers (HRAs) to countries in the region that provided advice and support for the drafting of these reports. Key OMP pillars in 2018 † Please refer to Data sources and notes on p.191. Despite continued advocacy that was undertaken by the Office, the Ministry of Interior, in charge of the elaboration of the National Action Plan on business and human rights, decided to discontinue the process. However, two weeks before the administration ended its mandate, the Ministry signed an agreement with the Business Coordinating Council (COPARMEX) to create a Joint Committee for the implementation of the objectives, strategies and coordinated actions on business and human rights. KEY PILLAR RESULTS: Mechanisms (M) M1 – National mechanisms for reporting and follow-up (NMRFs) function effectively in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. With technical support from OHCHR, the region advanced in the establishment of NMRFs to monitor and report on the implementation of recommendations issued Shifts: by the treaty bodies, special procedures and the UPR. The Government of Argentina concluded an agreement with the Government of Paraguay to implement SIMORE PLUS, a database that was developed in Paraguay with the technical support of OHCHR to facilitate the monitoring of the implementation of recommendations issued by the international human rights mechanisms. Global Constituency Civic Space In Uruguay, one report from the UNCT and 20 reports from civil society organizations were submitted in anticipation of the country’s third UPR cycle. OHCHR coordinated one dialogue session among civil society organizations and state institutions, and held six workshops that were attended by approximately 150 participants from civil society organizations, the national human rights institution and the UNCT. The objective of the workshops was to build the capacity of these actors to develop reports and follow up on the implementation of the recommendations accepted by Uruguay. In Chile, eight workshops were New technologies UN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2018 247