UN HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE FIELD UN HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE FIELD UN HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE FIELD BACKGROUND The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) implements its work at the national and regional level, which includes the provision of advisory services and technical cooperation, in accordance with the High Commissioner’s mandate under General Assembly resolution 48/141. OHCHR‘s deployment in the field (in countries and regions) is key to the implementation of the High Commissioner’s mandate: to promote the universal respect for and observance of all human rights, in the recognition that, in the framework of the purposes and principles of the Charter, the promotion and protection of all human rights is a legitimate concern of the international community. OHCHR staff interviewing a person affected by the conflict in Luhansk. © OHCHR/Ukraine At the country level, OHCHR works with its national counterparts to promote and protect human rights and conduct prevention by strengthening protection systems and implementing effective measures to break down obstacles to the realization of human rights. To do so, the Office acts to establish or reinforce the capacity of accountability and justice mechanisms at the national level to undertake monitoring (fact-finding, investigation and documentation) and secure redress for victims of human rights violations through advocacy, reporting and technical cooperation. Field presences conduct these activities at varying levels, depending on their capacity and the context in which they operate. OHCHR prioritizes follow-up to recommendations issued by the international human rights mechanisms in relation to Member States, including in the context of the Universal Periodic Review. 182 UN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2018 The ultimate aim of these efforts is to strengthen the national human rights infrastructure. This is primarily achieved through the establishment of coordination mechanisms that are led by the executive and include the active participation of State institutions, national human rights institutions (NHRIs) and civil society organizations for integrated reporting and follow-up. Ensuring that this work is systematically and increasingly carried out in line with national development plans enhances the abilities of Member States to address gaps in implementation and revise their legislation and practices to be in conformity with human rights norms. OHCHR’s field presences contribute to broader United Nations efforts that are focused on sustainable peace and security and development, including through human rights mainstreaming, by contributing to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals. OHCHR’s field engagement is based on interaction, dialogue and cooperation with a wide range of actors, such as governments, national institutions, civil society, including community and religious groups and the private business sector, non-State actors, UN entities, in particular UN peace operations, resident/humanitarian coordinators and UN Country Teams (UNCTs)/ Humanitarian Country Teams (HCTs), international military coalitions, regional and subregional organizations, victims of human rights violations and abuses and other affected persons and communities. As impartial interlocutors and convenors, OHCHR’s field presences function as conveners and foster dialogue between different stakeholders. During the reporting period, OHCHR strengthened its field presences to advance its mainstreaming mandate, especially under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and its prevention role at the country level and regarding subregional crises or cross-border challenges with human rights implications. In 2018, OHCHR responded to deteriorating human rights situations and early signs of emerging crises through the rapid deployment of monitoring missions or additional surge capacity for UN operations in the context of humanitarian emergencies. As of the end of December, OHCHR was operating in 77 field presences and providing support to other members of the UN system through rapid deployments of human rights officers in response to emerging situations. In addition, given the refusal or lack of response from host governments to grant OHCHR access, the Office “remotely monitored” situations of concern in Kashmir, Turkey and Venezuela through information that was collected from victims, witnesses and other actors and by issuing public reports. UN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2018 183