FOREWORD BY THE HIGH COMMISSIONER Organization and UNESCO, my office actively contributed to the SecretaryGeneral’s reform of the UN Development System. We ensured that the new UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework had a strong normative and human rights foundation supporting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, especially as we enter the Decade of Action do deliver the Goals. In Central Asia and Central America, for example, my Office carried out a number of initiatives to integrate human rights into national frameworks for the Sustainable Development Goals. From advising State authorities on elaboration of SDG indicators in Uzbekistan to supporting development of an online platform that connects the recommendations issued by the international human rights mechanisms with the National Agenda for Sustainable Development in Honduras; our collaboration with diverse partners across the UN System, civil society, private sector, academia and national authorities has contributed to the transformative change we are targeting. Standing up for all human rights – for everyone, everywhere – is essential to fulfilling our promise of leaving no one behind and building prosperous, just and inclusive societies on a healthy planet. This Report highlights how human rightsbased action achieves tangible results, though the gap between increasing demands and available funding keeps growing. I am grateful for the trust and support we received from our 84 donors in 2019: with the US$179 million we received, my Office was able to assist governments and civil society organizations with long-term work that places people and their rights front and center. At the same time, our capacity to respond to urgent and new requests was limited as our 2019 Annual Appeal was only funded to 56 per cent. Even as we recognize, with pride, the value and impact of the work we have accomplished through our partnerships, I am cognizant of the need for strengthened efforts. Today’s multiple predicaments are sobering on many fronts – I look forward to distilling lessons learned, building on good practice and, together, leveraging a united voice for human rights for all. MICHELLE BACHELET High Commissioner for Human Rights May 2020 UN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2019 5