OHCHR – Southern Africa Regional Office (2006-2007)

Background

 
The Southern African Regional Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights was established in 1998 as a joint project of OHCHR and UNDP. The Office assists United Nations agencies and States in the region to help ensure the full realisation of human rights at the country level. It works with Governments, United Nations Country Teams (UNCTs), and civil society in the fifteen countries of the Southern Africa region, including Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe . In this regard, the Office provides training, advisory services, and substantive support to Governments, Parliaments, and members of the judiciary, national human rights institutions, civil society organizations as well as UNCTs in the region.

The Office also assists the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in integrating human rights into its programming and policies and supports the New Partnerships for Africa ’s Development (NEPAD) initiatives. The location of the secretariats of the SADC and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) respectively in Botswana and Zambia extends the Office's interface with those Regional Economic Organisations.
 

2006-2007 Programme

 
The over-arching goal of the Office is to strengthen regional and national capacities for the protection and promotion of human rights, including the capacities of the UNCTs in the Region. The Office's main objectives are as follows:

• To enhance awareness and understanding of international human rights standards and systems amongst governments, civil society and relevant UN field staff;
• To develop and expand human rights related assistance activities to requesting states;
• To support existing national and regional human rights institutions, or to encourage the establishment of such institutions, with a view to strengthening their capacity to promote and protect human rights;
• To promote a human rights-based approach to development through mainstreaming human rights in policies and programmes of UNCTs, regional, and national partners;
• To strengthen sub-regional networks in support of human rights, democracy and the rule of law;
• Strengthening the capacity of UNCTs to support national human rights protection systems and further integrate human rights in their programs;
• Strengthening national human rights protection systems in order to enhance human rights protection;
• Combating discrimination and domestic violence, and protecting minorities and marginalised groups. 

Expected Accomplishments

 
Enhanced law enforcement and a human rights culture in Southern African sub-region, through adoption, incorporation and implementation of international and regional human rights instruments into domestic national law.

Traditional and formal law systems harmonised to better respond to people’s quest for justice.

Greater promotion and implementation of national and international plans and declarations on the elimination of racism and gender inequality and ensuring the rights of minorities (indigenous groups and people with disability).

More effective National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs).