OHCHR - Pacific Regional Office (2006-2007)

Background

The first OHCHR presence in the Pacific dates back to August 2001. The initial project was aimed at supporting the peace process in the Solomon Islands in the wake of civil unrest in the country (1999 – October 2000). A further project to strengthen the national human rights institutional capacities was fielded in 2003 for a period of one year. After a brief hiatus, OHCHR returned to the Pacific region in August 2005 and established a regional office in Suva , Fiji. In August 2006, a sub-office was opened in Honiara , Solomon Islands. Further, a Human Rights adviser will be placed in the Papua New Guinea UN Country Team (UNCT) during 2007.

The regional office is covering the 16 member countries of the Pacific Islands Forum (Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu). 
 

2006-2007 Programme

 
OHCHR is contributing to increasing the knowledge of international human rights norms and standards as well as that of UN human rights mechanisms by all stakeholders in the region. Through a cooperative and consultative approach, OHCHR is supporting country-based and regional initiatives aimed at reinforcing national protection systems. Such cooperation is undertaken with States, civil society, the Pacific Islands Forum and other national and regional partners.

One of the main priorities identified for the Regional Office is the promotion of ratification of core human rights treaties and support to reporting and implementation obligations. Cooperation by OHCHR also includes initiatives such as assisting in the establishment of national human rights institutions. The Pacific office further assists in empowering rights holders and reinforcing national protection mechanism.

Awareness raising activities, dissemination of information and training on human rights are leading towards a better understanding of the concept of human rights, and it is expected that such activities would contribute to increased use of human rights norms and standards by State and non-State actors.

OHCHR further strengthens the capacity of the UN Country Teams (based in Fiji , Samoa and Papua New Guinea) by mainstreaming human rights in selected strategic activities, including through formulation and implementation of UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) processes, in order to increase its impact on development and humanitarian issues.

Expected Accomplishments

Increased use by rights-holders of international human rights norms and mechanisms.

Increased ratification of and reporting under international human rights treaties.

Strengthened national protection systems.

Enhanced capacity of the UNCT to promote and protect human rights.