Protection Through Presence: The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Field

Abstract

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) field presences created to date have varying mandates; some are complex, with both ‘protective’ and ‘promotional’ mandates; some are focused solely on delivering technical assistance; some provide support to the human rights sections of peace operations managed by the Department of Political Affairs (DPA) or the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO); some advise UN Country Teams (UNCTs); and some are regional or sub-regional presences. This chapter details the efforts of the various High Commissioners to expand OHCHR’s presence in the field. It describes emblematic examples of such field presences, highlighting both examples of success and of shortcomings encountered. The chapter identifies challenges that the current and future High Commissioners will face in ensuring that the field activities of OHCHR make as significant a contribution to human rights protection as possible in the coming years. Keywords:Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO); Department of Political Affairs (DPA); High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR); human rights protection; UN Country Teams (UNCTs)