The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is a department of the United Nations Secretariat. It is mandated to promote and protect the enjoyment and full realization, by all people, of all rights established in the Charter of the United Nations and in international human rights laws and treaties. 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. In addition to its mandated responsibilities, the Office leads efforts to integrate a human rights approach within all work carried out by United Nations agencies.

OHCHR is guided in its work by the mandate provided by the General Assembly in resolution 48/141; the Charter of the United Nations; the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and subsequent human rights instruments; the 1993 Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action; and the 2005 World Summit Outcome Document. OHCHR's priorities are set by the General Assembly and are contained in the Medium-Term Plan for 2002-2005. The plan follows the 1993 Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, which was developed out of the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights, and the Charter of the United Nations.

OHCHR's mission is to work for the protection of all human rights for all people; to help empower people to realize their rights; and to assist those responsible for upholding such rights in ensuring that they are implemented. In carrying out its mission OHCHR will:

• Give priority to addressing the most pressing human rights violations, both acute and chronic, particularly those that put life in imminent peril;
• Focus attention on those who are at risk and vulnerable on multiple fronts;
• Pay equal attention to the realization of civil, cultural, economic, political, and social rights, including the right to development; and
• Measure the impact of its work through the substantive benefit that is accrued, through it, to individuals around the world.

Operationally, OHCHR works with governments, legislatures, courts, national institutions, civil society, regional and international organisations, and the United Nations system to develop and strengthen capacity, particularly at the national level, for the protection of human rights in accordance with international norms.

Institutionally, OHCHR is committed to strengthening the United Nations human rights programme and to providing it with the highest quality support. OHCHR is committed to working closely with its United Nations partners to ensure that human rights form the bedrock of the work of the United Nations.

This information is taken from:

www.ohchr.org/english/about/index.htm
www.ohchr.org/english/about/docs/strategic.pdf