Annual Report 2006
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RA_2007_UNHCHR COUV DEF:Mise en page 1 18.5.2007 11:37 Page 1 Annual Report 2006 AnnualReport2006 Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Office ANNUAL REPORT 2006 Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Palais des Nations CH 1211 Geneva 10 – Switzerland Telephone : +41.22.917 90 00 Fax : +41.22.917 90 08 United Nations Human Rights www.ohchr.org Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights RA_2007_UNHCHR_DEF:Mise en page 1 18.5.2007 9:37 Page 1 AnnualReport2006 United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights RA_2007_UNHCHR_DEF:Mise en page 1 21.5.2007 7:17 Page 2 Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights........ 5 2.0 About OHCHR ......................................................... 7 3.0 Implementing the High Commissioner’s Strategic Management Plan 2006-2007 . 13 3.1 A Mid-Term Assessment of Progress................................................ 14 Introduction ...................................................................... 14 OHCHR’s First Strategic Management Plan............................................... 14 Country Engagement ............................................................... 15 Leadership....................................................................... 18 Partnerships...................................................................... 20 Support for the new Human Rights Council and other United Nations human rights mechanisms ....... 22 Management and Planning........................................................... 24 Challenges and Lessons Learned...................................................... 25 3.2 OHCHR in the Field............................................................... 30 Introduction..................................................................... 30 OHCHR’s Approach to Fieldwork ...................................................... 30 Types of Field Presence ............................................................. 31 Headquarters Support to Field Operations ............................................... 35 Cooperation with Humanitarian Agencies ................................................ 35 OHCHR in Africa ................................................................. 38 Overview........................................................................ 38 Country Offices ................................................................... 39 Support to United Nations Peace Missions ............................................... 46 Other Activities in the Region ......................................................... 52 Challenges and Lessons Learned...................................................... 54 Priorities for 2007.................................................................. 55 OHCHR in Asia and the Pacific ..................................................... 56 Overview........................................................................ 56 Country Offices ................................................................... 57 Support to United Nations Peace Missions ............................................... 65 Support to United Nations Country Teams ............................................... 67 Other Activities in the Region ......................................................... 68 Challenges and Lessons Learned...................................................... 70 Priorities for 2007.................................................................. 70 OHCHR in the Middle East and North Africa .......................................... 72 Overview........................................................................ 72 Country Offices ................................................................... 73 Support to United Nations Peace Missions ............................................... 77 Other Activities in the Region ......................................................... 79 Challenges and Lessons Learned...................................................... 81 Priorities for 2007.................................................................. 81 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS RA_2007_UNHCHR_DEF:Mise en page 1 18.5.2007 9:37 Page 3 OHCHR in Europe, North America and Central Asia .................................... 82 Overview........................................................................ 82 Country Offices ................................................................... 83 Support to United Nations Peace Missions ............................................... 88 Support to United Nations Country Teams ............................................... 89 Other Activities in the Region ......................................................... 89 Challenges and Lessons Learned...................................................... 90 Priorities for 2007.................................................................. 91 OHCHR in Latin America and the Caribbean .......................................... 92 Overview........................................................................ 92 Country Offices ................................................................... 93 Support to United Nations Peace Missions ............................................... 101 Other Activities in the Region ......................................................... 102 Challenges and Lessons Learned...................................................... 104 Priorities for 2007.................................................................. 104 Rapid Response to Emerging Human Rights Crises .................................... 106 3.3 Supporting the Human Rights Council and Other Human Rights Bodies.................... 110 3.4 Supporting Special Procedures ..................................................... 118 3.5 Thematic Human Rights Challenges ................................................. 124 3.6 Executive Direction, Programme Support and Management.............................. 142 4.0 Humanitarian Funds.................................................... 151 Introduction ............................................................................ 152 United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture .............................................. 152 United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery ............................... 152 United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations ......................................... 153 5.0 Funding.............................................................. 155 6.0 Financial Accounts for the Year to 31 December 2006......................... 167 Annex I: Organization Chart .............................................. 173 Annex II: List of Abbreviations ............................................ 174 ANNUAL REPORT 2006 3 RA_2007_UNHCHR_DEF:Mise en page 1 18.5.2007 9:37 Page 4 RA_2007_UNHCHR_DEF:Mise en page 1 18.5.2007 9:37 Page 5 Introduction by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights This Annual Report My Office has also been engaged in pursuing its own offers an overview of a transformation, which we set out in the 2006 Strategic truly momentous year Management Plan (SMP). In contrast to previous OHCHR for human rights. The appeals, for the first time this SMP covered a biennium of highlight was the his- activities, and included staff and activity costs to be toric inauguration, in funded both from the regular budget and from voluntary June, of the Human contributions. Rights Council, the new intergovernmental body As we conclude the first half of an exceptionally challeng- created to replace the ing biennium, this 2006 Annual Report provides an Commission on Human assessment of how OHCHR is evolving. The report focuses Rights. Since its inception, the Council has been engaged on those priorities that have directed and will continue to in institution-building while tackling some of the human guide our action and initiatives, namely strengthening rights crises that erupted or intensified over the second country engagement and thematic expertise as well as part of 2006. It also moved swiftly to adopt the draft the efforts dedicated to further empowering rights-hold- Convention on Enforced Disappearances and the draft ers, fostering partnerships both with civil society and Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, two new within the UN system, and enhancing our leadership role. important standard-setting instruments. I cannot overemphasize the importance of field presences Although “crisis responsiveness” and norm-building will in allowing us to better understand the human rights sit- remain essential components of its work, the Council uation on the ground, directly support authorities and the must also be able to design comprehensive protection UN Country Teams, and reach rights-holders. However, strategies in the face of both simmering strife and field presences are only one of the many ways in which endemic human rights situations. Such vigilance is need- we engage countries on human rights issues. We have ed to ensure that the Council fully discharges its mandate also focused on strengthening our own internal capabili- and meets the expectations of countless and, often, voice- ty by reinforcing geographical desks at headquarters and less victims of human rights abuses. developing new tools and training materials. Crucially, we have created a rapid-response unit, which has already Building on the additional resources and political support been mobilized to establish, support and deploy commis-