FUNDING VFTC PROGRAMMES IN SOUTH AFRICA AND MOZAMBIQUE: MAKING A DIFFERENCE THROUGH STRENGTHENED THEMATIC EXPERTISE During its 2019 session in South Africa and Mozambique, the Board met with State institutions, national human rights institutions (NHRIs), international community and civil society organizations. Discussions focused on the comparative advantage of UN Human Rights with respect to technical cooperation and how its expertise on thematic issues, particularly in monitoring human rights and providing analysis on the ground, contributes to the development of sound technical cooperation programmes that address challenges, maximize opportunities and yield positive and impactful results. Southern Africa is a region where a number of countries have some of the highest levels of inequality in the world and there are real opportunities to demonstrate how human rights considerations can accelerate the implementation and progress of the SDGs in the Decade of Action. All partners emphasized to the Board that UN Human Rights had been effective in building bridges, convening stakeholders and establishing partnerships, increasing human rights knowledge through undertaking capacity-building activities and promoting and protecting human rights. Partners valued the technical expertise provided by UN Human Rights to assist States with ratification and the domestication of international human rights treaties, the development of policies and practices that contribute to the realization of human rights for all and in developing “Leave No One Behind” strategies that address challenges faced by spotlight populations, including women and girls who experience violence. The physical presence of UN Human Rights in the region and its strategy to expand its regional presence, technical and thematic expertise enabled the Office to enhance the value of its unique mandate and actively engage with key partners in the region. UN Human Rights is frequently approached in the region to provide direction on the human rights dimensions of numerous thematic areas, such as economic, social and cultural rights, integrating human rights into UN development programmes, humanitarian action and responses to deteriorating 116 UN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2019 situations. In Mozambique, both national and UN partners highlighted the technical expertise and relevance of the technical cooperation provided by the Office to support the analysis of protection challenges, including in the context of the violence experienced in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, and to identify the groups at risk of being left behind. The Regional Office for Southern Africa and relevant UN entities are supporting the preparation of the Southern African Development Community Model Law on gender-based violence, as well as a comprehensive UN framework of support to South Africa on addressing gender-based violence, following the President’s declaration of emergency on this topic. The Regional Office supported the strengthening of the capacities of the judiciary on gender stereotyping and the Board visited the Bienvenu Shelter, a project in South Africa that is supported by the VFTC, where it witnessed how the Office directly assists victims. The Regional Office and Board also met with refugee women and children who escaped from violence and observed how the support of UN Human Rights helps to rebuild the lives of torture victims. VFTC Board of Trustees visit the Bienvenu Shelter in Johannesburg, South Africa. © OHCHR