Human Rights in Conflict Resolution: The Role of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in UN Peacemaking and Peacebuilding

Abstract

The mainstreaming of human rights into all political, development, and other initiatives by the United Nations has led to a welcome attempt to coordinate related UN activities. However, there remains a degree of mistrust or misunderstanding that negatively affects the prospects for a more effective working relationship between those UN officials whose primary focus is politics and diplomacy and those whose primary concern is human rights. To successfully integrate human rights into their work, political and human rights officials must become more aware and respectful of the other's perspectives and values. In addition, as holistic approaches to peacemaking, peacebuilding, and peacekeeping become more common, it is important to achieve a better division of labor between negotiators and human rights advocates, so that each can contribute meaningfully to the work of the other.