How we do it

To fulfil its comprehensive human rights mandate, OHCHR speaks out objectively in the face of human rights violations worldwide. It provides a forum for identifying, highlighting and developing responses to today's human rights challenges, and acts as the principal focal point of human rights research, education, public information, and human rights advocacy activities in the United Nations system.

Work Method

OHCHR's method of work focuses on three major dimensions: standard-setting, monitoring, and implementation on the ground. We do so by offering the best expertise, and substantive and secretariat support to the different United Nations human rights bodies as they discharge their standard-setting and monitoring duties. We try do ensure these international human rights standards are implemented on the ground through greater country engagement and our field presences.

Partnerships

With our leading human rights role and the important task of mainstreaming human rights into the United Nations system, we work with Governments, civil society, national human rights institutions, other United Nations entities, international organizations, private sector and others in their efforts to promote and protect human rights.  >>More

Resources

To implement our comprehensive mandate, we employ more than 850 staff (last update in April 2007), based in Geneva and New York and in 11 country offices and seven regional offices around the world, including a workforce of some 240 international human rights officers serving in UN peace missions.

We are funded from the United Nations regular budget and from voluntary contributions from Member States, intergovernmental organizations, foundations and individuals. >>More