International Service for Human Rights

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is 'mandated to promote and protect the enjoyment and full realisation, by all people, of all rights established in the Charter of the United Nations (UN) and in international human rights laws and treaties.' Its mandate was established by the General Assembly in Resolution 48/141. 'The mandate includes preventing human rights violations, securing respect for all human rights, promoting international cooperation to protect human rights, coordinating related activities throughout the United Nations, and strengthening and streamlining the United Nations system in the field of human rights.' OHCHR also works to integrate a human rights approach within all work carried out by the UN. For more information about the mandate and history of OHCHR, please click here.

OHCHR services the treaty bodies, the Human Rights Council and all of its mechanisms. It provides valuable information to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and has published a very useful Handbook for NGOs on working with OHCHR .