Human rights advisory services in the OPT – SecGen report (excerpts)

ADVISORY SERVICES IN THE FIELD OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Technical cooperation in the field of human rights

Report of the Secretary-General

CONTENTS

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B.  New national projects under implementation

Implementation of major multi-year technical cooperation projects began during 1996 in Argentina, Burundi, Latvia, Nepal, Palestine, Papua New Guinea and Togo (more information on those projects is contained in section E below).  In addition, implementation began in 1996 of a 15-month project in Haiti to strengthen the judicial system and assist in national reconciliation by supporting the work of the National Commission on Truth and Justice.  The project provides for convening a high-level colloquium on the administration of justice, with a view to analysing and reforming the criminal code; the provision of expertise to assist in legal review; and training for judges, prosecutors, prison officials, police and educators.

C.  Regional and global projects implemented

Although most of the activities carried out under the technical cooperation programme take place at the national level, a growing number of projects are being implemented at the regional and global levels.  During 1996, global activities concerned a wide range of issues, including women's rights, training for peace-keepers and human rights monitors, training for the military and human rights education.  Regional activities took place in the African, Asian and Pacific, Latin American and Eastern European regions.  For a summary of all global and regional activities undertaken in 1996, see annex I.

D.  Field presence

As of 31 December 1996, there was a technical cooperation field presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Cambodia, Gaza (Palestine), Malawi, Mongolia, Rwanda and Togo.  There are now more technical cooperation personnel in the field than ever before.  This a direct reflection of the growth in large-scale projects intended to provide comprehensive, specialized expertise to recipient countries in key areas such as the strengthening of national human rights institutions or the development of training capacities.  In Burundi, for example, a team of national and international experts has elaborated and implemented judicial training programmes and other activities aimed at introducing human rights education in the curriculum, strengthening NGOs and enhancing the role of the media in the promotion of human rights.  Experts were also deployed for several months in Latvia and Papua New Guinea under projects aimed at strengthening technical and managerial capacities in national human rights institutions in those countries.  These examples serve to illustrate the growing awareness that successful technical cooperation requires a continuing emphasis on internal capacity-building.

A project management team was established in Gaza (Palestine) and national project managers were appointed in Malawi, Mongolia and Togo to facilitate the implementation of projects.  Those arrangements draw on national expertise to the largest extent possible, strengthening the recipient countries' ownership of technical cooperation initiatives and contributing to building national human rights capacities.

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E.  New projects approved

In 1996, 26 projects were endorsed by the Board of the Voluntary Fund and approved by the High Commissioner for Human Rights.  Thirteen are to be implemented at the national level, nine at the regional level and four at the global level.  Most provide comprehensive assistance to a variety of national counterparts aimed at strengthening national capacity.  The following is a brief description of the projects approved in 1996.  More detailed information on each is contained in the project fact sheets, which may be consulted on the United Nations Human Rights Website under "Technical Cooperation".  Printed copies of all project fact sheets may be obtained from the Secretariat.

1.  National projects

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In Palestine, a two-year comprehensive project for strengthening the rule of law and development of a coherent legal framework consistent with international standards.  The project includes assistance for a national plan of action and improving the administration of justice; training for police, prison personnel, judges, lawyers and prosecutors; and support to key institutions and NGOs, particularly in the area of women's rights.  A project management team was established in Gaza in November to begin implementation of the project.

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Annex I

TECHNICAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT IN 1996

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