The Great Lakes Region Initiative (GLRI) under the “Action 2” programme seeks to support the UN system in the region (initially focusing on Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda) in implementing the programme at the country level and to foster regional cooperation to address common challenges faced in strengthening human rights in the region.
The main objectives of the Great Lakes Region Initiative are to strengthen the human rights capacity of the UN Country Teams in the region; to facilitate the development of joint programmes aimed at supporting national partners in strengthening national protection systems; to foster regional programme activities which may go beyond the three countries initially participating in the GLRI and the collaboration, partnership and sharing of knowledge and experience among the UN Country Teams in the region; to promote human rights in the work of the Executive Secretariat for the follow-up mechanism of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region; and to build linkages with relevant work of the UN Country Teams in the region.
In 2008, under “Action 2 GLRI”, OHCHR will deploy a regional human rights adviser in Burundi to support the three UN Country Teams and the Executive Secretariat for the follow-up mechanism of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region. The Regional Human Rights Adviser (RHRA) will advise the participating UN Country Teams on capacity-building activities and act as a resource person in country workshops to ensure consistency of approaches; consult with participating UN Country Teams and identify common human rights issues and challenges, including those of a cross-border nature,which could be addressed through collaboration among Country Teams and national actors; and support the Executive Secretariat of the follow-up mechanism in the implementation of the Plan of Action of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region.