Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

The Office of the U.N High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) mission is "to protect and promote human rights for all with the realization that all rights for women and men must be ensured on a basis of equality."

The OHCHR has offices in 120 countries, a $1 billion annual budget, and the capacity to provide not only legal protection but also material relief in major emergencies. The agency helps by providing them with basic necessities such as shelter, food, water and medicine in emergencies and seeks long term solutions, including voluntary return to their homes or beginning afresh in new countries. UNHCR focuses on protecing refugees and seeking ways to help them restart their lives in a normal environment.

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights endorses the United Nations policy on gender mainstreaming, by making gender mainstreaming an organizational imperative. In so doing, the Office reinforces the principle of non-discrimination on the basis of sex as a means of ensuring gender equality in the enjoyment of human rights. For more information see Women's Rights are Human Rights.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is Mary Robinson. She has the principal responsibility for United Nations human rights activities, under the direction and authority of the Secretary-General.

The OHCHR is involved in the following countries:

Horn of Africa
Central Africa
West Africa
Sri Lanka
Timor
The Palestinian Issues
Afghanistan
Colombia
Asylum In Europe
Former Yugoslavia
North Caucasus

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the efforts of the international human rights system to mainstream gender and the human rights of women can be found at www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/womenpub2000.htm. It outlines recent developments as well as the challenges ahead.

Additionally, the OHCHR will provide human rights training for International Police Task Force (IPTF) monitors of the UN Mission in Bosnia and Hercegovina (UNMBIH) as well as other UN Agencies with additional emphasis on gender, violence against women and trafficking (www.db.idpproject.org)

Publications:

Women: Helping the women of war

Tools for Teachers

A woman's agenda

Red Cross: rape used as weapon of war

UNHCR's Women Victims of Violence Project in Kenya: An Evaluation Summary

UN: Women can be powerful force for peace and reconciliation and must be integrated more effectively in peace processes worldwide, says Deputy Secretary-General

East Timor: women speak out about militia rapes

Note on Certain Aspects of Sexual Violence Against Refugee Women

International Women's Day: Ogata denounces violence against women, calls for more action to protect them

For more information see the OHCHR Website.

Contact information:

OHCHR
Palais Wilson
Rue des Pâquis 52
1201 Geneva 1

Ph #: (0041 22) 917 9240
Fax : (0041 22) 917 9012
Ph #: (info-desk) (0041 22) 917 9159

Mailing address:
OHCHR
Palais des Nations
1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland