The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) was created in 1993 following the Vienna World Conference on Human Rights and has its headquarters in Geneva. Its mission is to promote and protect human rights throughout the world. It ensures that international instruments for the protection of human rights are enforced and facilitate their ratification. The OHCHR cooperates with other UN bodies to ensure that human rights standards are mainstreamed into all UN actions. Through a consultative role, it also works with governments to facilitate their involvment in human rights issues. The OHCHR has strengthened its field presence and has now offices in about twenty countries where it provides monitoring and advice for the promotion and respect of human rights. It notably contributes to strengthening cooperation between national institutions and civil society. The OHCHR may also send out human rights advisors to support UN teams in peacekeeping operations.

Since 2006, the OHCHR has been entitled to send or support missions or commissions of inquiry examining allegations of serious human rights violations. Finally, the OHCHR also acts as the secretariat of the Human Rights Council and assists it in preparing UPRs.

Update : July 2010