1 - Human Rights - Senior Leadership Programme

Contents Human rights, peace and security UN policy framework on human rights Human rights integration is a key resource for senior leaders Partnerships on protecting human rights

3 Human Rights and the peace and security agenda  Increasing attention by the Security Council to human rights issues, and expectations of timely, impartial and verified information  Peace operations increasingly given strong and full- fledged human rights mandates  Credibility of UN missions often rests on the ability to protect people from further human rights violations

4 OHCHR/DPKO/DPA/DFS Policy on Human Rights in UN Peace Operations and Political Missions (2011) Builds on the Secretary-General’s 2005 Decision and provides further clarity and operational guidance on:  OHCHR’s participation in mandates and planning and design of human rights components  Dual role of the Head of the Human Rights Component  Core activities of human rights components  Human rights responsibilities of other mission components  Human rights responsibilities of senior mission leaders  Follow-up to 2015 Policy Implementation Review ongoing

Human rights integration and responsibilities of senior leaders  All UN personnel have a responsibility to protect human rights through their functions -- this starts with senior leaders  Secretary-General’s Human Rights Up Front Action Plan (2013)  Senior leaders will: uphold human rights in mandate implementation; instill human rights in the work of the mission; ensure that all staff are aware and abide by human rights and issue instructions to this effect; demonstrate by word and deed commitment to human rights and implementation of these instructions. 5

Additional relevant UN policies  SG decision on integration of human rights in UN peace operations (2005)  Policy directive on public reporting by human rights components (2008)  Human Rights Due Diligence Policy on UN support to non-UN security forces (2011)  Human Rights Screening Policy (2012)  SG’s Human Rights Up Front (2013)

When recipient entities commit such grave violations, UN actors providing support must intercede with a view to bringing violations to an end. If, despite such intercession, the situation persists, UN entities providing support must suspend support to the offending elements. UN actors cannot provide support to non- UN security forces when there is a real risk that recipient entities commit grave violations and where no specific mitigatory measures can reduce the risk. Human rights due diligence policy (HRDDP) -- principles

UN entities providing support to security forces must exercise due diligence by:

9 Roles of the Human Rights Component of a UN Peace Operation  Monitoring and investigation  Assessment  Reporting  Advocacy and intervention  Support for institutional reform and capacity- building

Human rights integration is a key resource for senior leaders  To build confidence among parties  To move peace processes forward  Sustainability of peace building  To protect civilians under threat of physical violence, address sexual violence and child protection

Opportunities and challenges linked to human rights integration

12 Partnerships for human rights  Internal to missions: UN Military, UN Police, Political and Civil Affairs, Gender, Child Protection, Justice etc.  Internal to UN: UNCT/HCT, human rights mechanisms, agencies, funds programmes.  External to the UN: Government authorities, national human rights institutions, civil society and NGOs, regional organisations.

13 Human rights and senior leaders – “take aways” Human rights standards are universal - your focus of application can be contextual and strategic Human rights are a UN system-wide commitment Human rights are instrumental to the peace operation’s impartiality, legitimacy and credibility Human rights is a cross-cutting responsibility of all Human rights links the mission with humanitarian and development actors (and across phases) Senior leaders required to uphold human rights in mandate implementation