RES/33/28 Enhancement of technical cooperation and capacity-building in the field of human rights

GE.16-17385(E)



Human Rights Council Thirty-third session

Agenda item 10

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 30 September 2016

33/28. Enhancement of technical cooperation and capacity-building

in the field of human rights

The Human Rights Council,

Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,

particularly with regard to achieving international cooperation in promoting and

encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all, without

distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other

opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status,

Reaffirming the obligation of States under the Charter to promote universal respect

for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Recognizing that the enhancement of international cooperation is essential for the

effective promotion and protection of human rights, which should be based on the

principles of cooperation and genuine dialogue and aimed at strengthening the capacity of

States to prevent human rights violations and comply with their human rights obligations

for the benefit of all human beings,

Recognizing also the importance of enhancing international support for

implementing effective and targeted capacity-building in developing countries to support

national plans to implement all the Sustainable Development Goals,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015 on the 2030

Agenda for Sustainable Development,

Recalling also the mandate of the Human Rights Council to promote advisory

services, technical assistance and capacity-building, to be provided in consultation with and

with the consent of States concerned, and the provisions in Council resolutions 5/1 and 5/2

of 18 June 2007 and 16/21 of 25 March 2011 that aim to enable the Council to fulfil such a

mandate,

Noting all relevant international human rights instruments, and all relevant

resolutions of the Human Rights Council on the enhancement of technical cooperation and

capacity-building in the field of human rights,

Reiterating that one of the responsibilities of the United Nations High

Commissioner for Human Rights and the Office of the High Commissioner is to provide

advisory services and technical and financial assistance, at the request of the State

concerned, with a view to supporting actions and programmes in the field of human rights,

Acknowledging the role and impact of the activities of the relevant agencies of the

United Nations and international and regional organizations, and the contribution of civil

society organizations in providing States with technical support and assistance on the basis

of the needs and requests of States concerned in the implementation of their human rights

obligations and their voluntary pledges and commitments, including accepted universal

periodic review recommendations,

Appreciating the important role of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Technical

Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights, the Voluntary Trust Fund for Participation in

the Universal Periodic Review, the Voluntary Technical Assistance Trust Fund to Support

the Participation of Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States in the

Work of the Human Rights Council and the Voluntary Trust Fund for Financial and

Technical Assistance for the Implementation of the Universal Periodic Review in assisting

States and developing their national capacities to promote the effective implementation of

their human rights obligations and accepted universal periodic review recommendations,

which have contributed to tangible improvements in the situation of human rights on the

ground,

Emphasizing that the tenth anniversary of the Human Rights Council offers States an

important opportunity to underline their commitment to the enhancement of technical

cooperation and capacity-building in the field of human rights, to reflect on the progress

and challenges in this area, and to deliberate on ways to foster more effective technical

cooperation and capacity-building in the field of human rights,

1. Emphasizes that the general debate under agenda item 10 remains an essential

platform for Members and observers of the Human Rights Council to share their visions

and views to promote more effective technical cooperation and capacity-building in the

field of human rights, and to share experiences, challenges and information on assistance

needed in the implementation of their human rights obligations and voluntary pledges and

commitments, including accepted universal periodic review recommendations, and their

achievements and good practices in this area;

2. Encourages States, relevant international organizations, intergovernmental

bodies and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to reflect on the

achievements made and obstacles faced in their past efforts pertaining to technical

cooperation and capacity-building in the field of human rights, and to deepen their dialogue

and collaboration with a view to bolstering efforts to promote the enjoyment of human

rights by all;

3. Reiterates that the discussion to promote technical cooperation and capacity-

building in the Human Rights Council should continue to be based on consultations with

and the consent of the States concerned, and should take into account their needs, and the

fact that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and aim

to make a concrete impact on the ground;

4. Underscores the need to strengthen international, regional and bilateral

cooperation and dialogue in the promotion and protection of human rights;

5. Reaffirms that technical cooperation should remain an inclusive exercise that

engages and involves all national stakeholders, including government agencies and civil

society;

6. Also reaffirms the ongoing need for enhanced voluntary contributions to the

relevant United Nations funds to support technical assistance and capacity-building,

particularly the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation in the Field of

Human Rights, the Voluntary Trust Fund for Participation in the Universal Periodic

Review, the Voluntary Trust Fund for Financial and Technical Assistance for the

Implementation of the Universal Periodic Review and the Voluntary Technical Assistance

Trust Fund to Support the Participation of Least Developed Countries and Small Island

Developing States in the Work of the Human Rights Council, and encourages States to

continue to make contributions to these funds, especially those who have not yet done so;

7. Invites the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to make his

next annual oral presentation, under agenda item 10, on the overview of and successes, best

practices and challenges in technical assistance and capacity-building efforts, particularly

those provided by the Office of the High Commissioner and relevant United Nations

agencies, to the Human Rights Council at its thirty-fourth session, and subsequently on an

annual basis at the March session of the Council;

8. Invites the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary

Fund for Technical Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights to present the next

comprehensive report on the Board’s work to the Human Rights Council at its thirty-fourth

session, and subsequently on an annual basis at the March session of the Council, and

encourages the Chairs of the boards of trustees of other funds administered by the Office of

the High Commissioner to support activities in the area of technical assistance and

capacity-building to make a presentation at the same session;

9. Welcomes the panel discussion held under agenda item 10 at the thirty-first

session of the Human Rights Council on the theme “Technical cooperation and capacity-

building to promote and protect the rights of all migrants, including women, children, older

persons and persons with disabilities”,1 in which participants underlined the importance of

technical cooperation and capacity-building in filling gaps and supporting States in

overcoming challenges in the implementation of their national migration policies to

promote and protect the rights of all migrants;

10. Decides, in accordance with paragraphs 3 and 4 of its resolution 18/18 of 29

September 2011, that the theme for the annual thematic panel discussion under agenda item

10 to be held during its thirty-fifth session will be “A decade of technical cooperation and

capacity-building in the Human Rights Council: challenges and the way forward”;

11. Requests the Office of the High Commissioner to prepare a report on

progress and the challenges encountered in the main activities aimed at enhancing technical

cooperation and capacity-building undertaken since the establishment of the Human Rights

Council by the Office, other relevant United Nations agencies and, where applicable,

regional organizations to support efforts by States to promote and protect human rights, and

to submit it to the Council at its thirty-fifth session, to serve as a basis for the thematic

panel discussion, and to liaise with States, relevant United Nations bodies and agencies,

relevant special procedures and other stakeholders, including, where applicable, those

involved in technical cooperation projects that demonstrate best practices, constructive

engagement and positive impact on the ground with a view to ensuring their participation in

the thematic panel discussion;

12. Calls upon States, relevant international organizations, intergovernmental

bodies and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to make use of the

ideas and issues raised in the annual panel discussion under agenda item 10 during its

1 See A/HRC/31/80.

thirty-fifth session to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of technical cooperation

and capacity-building efforts in improving States’ national capacities to promote and

protect human rights.

42nd meeting

30 September 2016

[Adopted without a vote.]