HIGHLIGHTS OF RESULTS HIGHLIGHTS OF RESULTS Highlights of pillar results Peace and Security (PS) PS3 Strategies to prevent and respond to conflict consistently integrate human rights protection. PILLAR RESULTS / SHIFTS / SDGs RESULTS / SPOTLIGHTS PS1 UN Human Rights advocacy with the Government of Afghanistan led to an improved implementation of the action plan of the National Policy for Civilian Casualty Prevention and Mitigation and relevant orders to reduce civilian casualties during military operations conducted by the Afghan national security and defence forces. Moreover, UN Human Rights also engaged with the Taliban to emphasize the importance of protecting civilians during the armed conflict. Parties to conflict and actors involved in peace operations increasingly comply with international human rights and humanitarian law and provide greater protection to civilians. Spotlights: Youth Disabilities Women Following the publication in February 2017 of the thematic report on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, UN Human Rights and UN Women assisted the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on Europe and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine to develop a strategy to prevent and address conflict-related sexual violence, which was endorsed by the Deputy Prime Minister in November. In June, key aspects of the strategy were integrated into the revised National Action Plan on UN Security Council resolution 1325 on “Women, Peace and Security.” In September, the Government adopted a revised National Action Plan and incorporated targeted actions for duty-bearers to make necessary legal amendments, integrate capacity-building of the security sector and law enforcement agencies. Between 1 January and 31 December, UN Human Rights documented 10,993 civilian casualties, including 3,804 killings, representing a five per cent increase in overall civilian casualties and an 11 per cent increase in civilian deaths compared to 2017. In addition, violence during the parliamentary elections, on 20 October, caused the most civilian casualties recorded in a single day in 2018 (435), as well as the most civilian casualties on any election day since 2009. UN Human Rights partnered with the African Union (AU) to increase compliance with international human rights and humanitarian law and provide greater protection to civilians in conflict. During 2018, UN Human Rights worked on the development of an AU-UN Framework on Human Rights, as called for by the AU and UN during the first High-level Dialogue on Human Rights. UN Human Rights provided support to the AU Joint Framework on Peace and Security by integrating human rights into its peace operations. AU-UN Human Rights annual/biennial meetings improved coordination of institutional priorities and ensured follow-up and implementation of the joint action plans and decisions. The national security forces participating in the G5 Sahel Joint Forces (FC-G5S), established by Security Council resolution 2391, were provided with guidance on planning and conducting operations in a manner that respects international humanitarian law and international human rights law, thereby minimizing adverse consequences for local communities. Some of the legal gaps underlined in the thematic report, namely the definition of rape and sexual violence, have been addressed by the amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which entered into force on 11 January 2019. PS4 Justice mechanisms, including for transitional justice, provide increased accountability for conflict-related violations. The compliance framework is an innovative package of concrete measures to prevent, mitigate and address violations by the FC-G5S, including training, rules and regulations, planning and after action review, monitoring and reporting, accountability and protection. UN Human Rights also began deploying teams in each of the G5 Sahel countries (Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger). This work is supported by an integrated political strategy with host Member States and the international community. PS2 Efforts to counter terrorism and prevent violent extremism comply with international law. Based on a three-year systematic mapping of vulnerabilities and their underlying causes in the villages in the district of Bassikounou, Mauritania, more than 65 villages were identified as being at high risk of conflict between the local population and refugees. In accordance with a 2016 partnership established between UN Human Rights and IOM, 49 village committees were set up, based on a participatory approach that includes women and vulnerable groups. In 2018, UN Human Rights trained 14 village committees in conflict prevention approaches and reinforced the capacity and knowledge of the other 35 committees. Moreover, communication between local and regional authorities and international aid agencies on the one hand, and the village committees on the other, was facilitated through coordination networks built with UN Human Rights support over the past three years. In 2018, the Office enhanced this coordination. As a result, several conflictual situations were resolved peacefully, with most concluded without the intervention of security forces. In May, the first hearings of cases of past grave human rights violations in Tunisia took place. A total of 34 cases, involving hundreds of victims and perpetrators, were submitted to the Specialized Chambers. Together with UNDP, UN Human Rights contributed by providing expert advice to the Truth and Dignity Commission and by training judges, prosecutors, lawyers and administration of justice officials who were assigned to work in the Specialized Chambers. UN Human Rights monitored the trials and facilitated a dialogue between judges about their experiences in the first hearings to identify existing and potential gaps. The dialogue was also held to ensure the availability of protection measures for victims and witnesses in court. UNDP and UN Human Rights collaborated to support the work of the Truth and Dignity Commission through technical advice for the elaboration of a global reparations programme in accordance with legislation on transitional justice. In Madagascar, UN Human Rights trained 220 people on human rights monitoring in the elections process across Madagascar’s 22 regions. The monitors, drawn from the Independent National Human Rights Commission (INHRC), the Malagasy Reconciliation Council, the Association of Journalists, the Bar Association and human rights NGOs, contributed data to a centralized alert and data collection centre that was established and jointly coordinated by UN Human Rights and the INHRC. The collection centre was tasked with compiling, alerting and providing timely responses to allegations of human rights violations. The collected data was also used by the UNCT in drafting general reports on the elections process. Trials in relation to the Boko Haram violent extremist insurgency in Nigeria have been completed in the Wawa Cantonment. Arrangements are underway to begin the mass trial of Boko Haram detainees in Maiduguri. UN Human Rights consistently advocated with the Federal Ministry of Justice for the prompt initiation of trials in compliance with international law and for the secure access of national and international NGOs in order to monitor the proceedings. Thanks to technical support provided by UN Human Rights, transitional justice mechanisms in Mali increasingly operate in line with international human rights norms and standards. Although the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) has not yet published its report, it has opened a sub-office in Kidal, and mobile teams were deployed to Agoni, Ansongo, Banamba, 30 UN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2018 Shifts: Global Constituency Prevention Civic Space Shifts: Climate change Corruption Inequalities New technologies People on the move UN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2018 31