HIGHLIGHTS OF RESULTS
on more than 100 cases of gross violations of human rights. OHCHR engaged in constructive
discussions with the judicial authorities to enhance and support the mandate and work of the
SCC, including by building the capacity of the SCC judges and organizing workshops and
various technical meetings and continued to monitor hearings throughout the year.
PS5
Human rights information and analyses are
integrated in early warning and analysis
systems and influence international and
national policy-making, strategies and
operations to prevent, mitigate or respond to
emerging crises, including humanitarian crises
and conflict.
UN Human Rights strengthened the prevention agenda and operationalization of the Human
Rights up Front (HRuF) Initiative in Southern Africa through support to RCs and UNCTs on
early warning and prevention. This was achieved by conducting integrated human rights
monitoring and analysis prior to and during elections (Comoros, Malawi and Mozambique) and
after elections (Malawi and Zimbabwe), as well as through country visits, briefings, technical
cooperation, remote monitoring and the establishment of cooperation platforms, such as
integrated information and risk analysis mechanisms. In Comoros and Malawi, OHCHR was
instrumental in the deployment of two multidisciplinary light teams, which strengthened the
UN’s preventive role in the run-up to potentially destabilizing elections. Specifically, in Malawi,
UN Human Rights developed an in-country prevention platform, which provided integrated UN
analysis throughout the electoral process to guide UN response led by the RC. OHCHR also
deployed a surge team to Bolivia to monitor the human rights situation in the electoral context
and to Chile and Ecuador in the context of protests in both countries.
In the framework of the Office’s efforts to pursue the Secretary-General’s vision of establishing
a Prevention Platform and enhancing the UN’s role at the regional level, a new regional
emergency response team (ERT) was set up at the West Africa Regional Office, in Dakar.
Together with established presences in Bangkok and Pretoria, the three ERTs developed risk
analysis to more directly influence UN responses at the field level. In 2019, this included the
development of an early warning system in Myanmar and the identification of emerging risks in
the north of Mozambique, which led to the improved coordination of UN responses, including
the deployment of additional UN Human Rights capacity.
With regards to policy development, the Office contributed to the Inter-Agency Standing
Committee Guidelines on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action,
which were officially launched, in November. The Guidelines are founded on CRPD and are
the first humanitarian guidelines developed by persons with disabilities through their
representative organizations, together with humanitarian stakeholders.
In terms of support for humanitarian action, the Office remained active in the Inter-Agency
Standing Committee and contributed to various operational and policy-related discussions,
including in the area of the humanitarian/development nexus. In 2019, we supported UN
Humanitarian Country Teams (HCTs) in the Bahamas, Malawi, Mozambique, the State of
Palestine, the Syrian Arab Republic and Zimbabwe and participated in the Operational Peer
Review of the response to Cyclone Idai in Mozambique. In Southern Africa, HCTs in Malawi,
Mozambique and Zimbabwe incorporated human rights analysis into their discussions and
strategies related to the response to Cyclones Idai and Kenneth, including as a result of UN
Human Rights inputs and participation. UN Human Rights also supported the integration of
human rights in Post-Disaster Needs Assessments in Malawi and Mozambique, with a focus
on persons with disabilities, older persons and persons with albinism. In Mozambique, UN
Human Rights participated in the Operational Peer Review that followed the scale-up response
to Cyclone Idai and recommended strengthening the Protection Cluster. UN Human Rights
implemented a pilot project with the Asia Pacific Forum aimed at strengthening the capacity
of NHRIs to engage in emergencies and humanitarian crises.
Shifts:
Climate change
Corruption
Inequalities
New technologies
People on the move
UN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2019 35
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