OHCHR

OHCHR stands for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. It is a department of the United Nations Secretariat charged with promoting and protecting human rights worldwide. It was established in 1993 by General Assembly resolution 48/141, following developments at the Vienna World Conference on Human Rights, and serves as the principal UN entity responsible for human rights advocacy, monitoring, and information gathering.

The OHCHR’s mandate includes monitoring and reporting on human rights abuses, advising and assisting states in meeting obligations under international human rights law, and coordinating UN human rights activities across agencies and missions. It supports the work of UN mechanisms such as the Universal Periodic Review, treaty bodies, and special procedures, and it provides technical assistance to governments, civil society, and national human rights institutions. The office also conducts field operations during emergencies, promotes accountability, and seeks to protect victims and at-risk populations.

The High Commissioner for Human Rights leads the office and is appointed by the UN Secretary-General with General Assembly approval for a fixed term, typically four years, renewable. The OHCHR is headquartered in Geneva and maintains regional and country offices to support field operations, advisory services, and advocacy across regions, including Africa, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe.

In its work, OHCHR aims to advance equality and non-discrimination, document and report abuses, provide early warning of emerging rights crises, and strengthen national and international mechanisms for accountability. It collaborates with other UN entities, regional organizations, and non-governmental actors to promote the protection and realization of human rights worldwide.