Human Rights

At the 2005 World Summit, Member States emphasized that the United Nations should "strengthen linkages between the normative work of the United Nations system and its operational activities", and in paragraph 126 of the 2005 World Summit Outcome Document, they unequivocally and unanimously stressed their support for the further mainstreaming of human rights throughout the UN system: "We resolve to integrate the promotion and protection of human rights into national policies and to support the further mainstreaming of human rights throughout the United Nations system."

UNDP responded to the Secretary General's call to mainstream human rights in all UN activities by adopting its first policy in 1998 - Integrating Human Rights with Sustainable Human Development. Since then, UNDP's work on human rights has grown significantly within its Democratic Governance focus area, particularly through providing policy advice, advocacy, technical assistance, capacity development and knowledge management support.

Human rights mainstreaming constitutes for UNDP a holistic framework methodology with the potential to enrich operational strategies in all its key focus areas. It adds a missing element to present activities by enhancing the enabling environment for equitable development, and by empowering people to take their own decisions. It supports Member States' capacity in bringing legal tools and institutions - laws, the judiciary and the rule of law principles - as means to secure freedoms and human development. It is further based on the recognition that real success in tackling poverty and vulnerability requires giving the poor and vulnerable both a stake, a voice and real protection in the societies where they live.

The Human Rights Unit in Geneva, established in 1999, is primarily responsible for the day-to-day UNDP representation in relevant human rights for a (including the UN Human Rights Council, Treaty Bodies, relevant Working Groups and Inter-agency mechanisms). In addition, it:

  • Contributes to corporate policy work, monitors UN human rights reforms, prepares relevant reports and policy options and advises the Geneva office and New York headquarters on developments at Geneva level.
  • Together with the Senior Human Rights Adviser at Headquarters (Democratic Governance Group/Bureau for Development Policy), manages and coordinates the implementation of UNDP's Global Human Rights Strengthening Programme (2007-2011).
  • Provides support to relevant HQ units, regional centres and country offices.
  • Liaises with the Geneva-based human rights institutions, primarily with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on corporate partnership issues and joint initiatives.

Contacts:

Zanofer Ismalebbe HRs Advisor
zanofer.ismalebbe@undp.org

Related Documents:

First UN Forum on Minority Issues
Statement from Cécile Molinier, Director, UNDP Geneva
Palais des Nations, 15-16 December, 2008

Second UN Forum on Minority Issues
pdfStatement from Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, Director, DGG/BDP, UNDP / Palais des Nations, Geneva: 12-13 November, 2009

Human Rights for Development – News Brief
pdfVolume 1, Jan 2009
pdfVolume 2, Oct 2009