UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous.
Photo: UN Photo/Evan Schneider.
UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous. Photo: UN Photo/Evan Schneider. Ms. Sima Sami Bahous became UN Women’s third Executive Director on 30 September 2021. A champion for women and girls, gender equality, and youth empowerment, as well as a keen advocate for quality education, poverty alleviation, and inclusive governance, Ms. Bahous brings to the position more than 35 years of leadership experience at the grassroots, national, regional, and international levels, coupled with expertise in advancing women’s empowerment and rights, addressing discrimination and violence, and promoting sustainable socio-economic development towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
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Previously, he held positions as UNICEF Representative to Algeria, Senior Adviser Child Protection in New York Headquarters, Deputy Representative to Afghanistan, Somalia and Albania, and Head of Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Before joining UNICEF, Mr. Fontaine worked for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Fontaine is a national of France. He holds a DEA (post-graduate diploma) in International Public Law and International Organizations from the University of Paris I (Pantheon-Sorbonne).
Volker TürkUnited Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Mr. Türk holds a doctorate in international law from the University of Vienna and a Master of Laws degree from the University of Linz, Austria. He has published widely on international refugee law and international human rights law. He is fluent in English and French and has a working knowledge of Spanish.
Over the course of his career, he held a number of key positions including at UNHCR headquarters where he served as Director of the Division of International Protection (2009-2015); Director of Organizational Development and Management (2008-2009); and Chief of Section, Protection Policy and Legal Advice (2000-2004).
"This practice constitutes one of the most inhumane and degrading forms of violence against women, and should have no place in the legal framework of a democratic country," UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay told Parliament.
Maldives is a Muslim country of 300,000 people where practicing other religions is forbidden. According to the nation's laws, 30 lashes are given to women found to have committed adultery.
Court officials would not give numbers on how many women are flogged, but the punishment is usually done in public.
How to receive hard copies
Publications and Information Desk Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Palais des Nations 8-14 avenue de la Paix CH-1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland Phone: + 41 (0)22 928 92 24 Fax: + 41 (0)22 928 90 10 E-mail: publications@ohchr.org
The Handbook’s contents
The Handbook includes information on:
OHCHR’s mandate, role and activities
OHCHR’s fellowship and training programmes
OHCHR’s publications and resource materials
The Human Rights Treaty Bodies
The Human Rights Council
The Special Procedures
The Universal Periodic Review
How to submit complaints on alleged human rights violations; and
Funds and grants available to civil society.
The Handbook also includes best practice examples of civil society collaboration with OHCHR in the field and civil society contributions to the work of United Nations human rights bodies and mechanisms. Further, it lists key contacts at OHCHR.
Feedback
As a dynamic tool, the on-line version of this Handbook will be regularly updated. The OHCHR Civil Society Section therefore welcomes reader feedback. Please send your comments and suggestions to:
Civil Society Section Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Palais des Nations CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland E-mail: civilsociety@ohchr.org
To be accredited, NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC should fax a letter,
preferably ahead of a given session, requesting accreditation to:
Fax: +41 (0)22 917 90 11.
Petitions Team
Office of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
8–14, avenue de la Paix
CH–1211 Geneva 10 - Switzerland
Fax: +41 (0)22 917 90 22
(particularly for urgent complaints)
E-mail: tb-petitions@ohchr.org
Secretariat contact details
Committee on the Elimination of
Discrimination against Women
c/o Office of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
8–14, avenue de la Paix
CH–1211 Geneva 10 - Switzerland
Fax: +41 (0)22 917 90 29
E-mail: cedaw@ohchr.org
Individual complaints
Individual complaints under article 22 of the
Convention may be sent to:
Petitions Team
Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
8–14, avenue de la Paix
CH–1211 Geneva 10 - Switzerland
Fax: +41 (0)22 917 90 22 (particularly for
urgent complaints)
E-mail: tb-petitions@ohchr.org
The NGO Group may be contacted at:
NGO Group for the Convention on the
Rights of the Child
Secretariat
1, rue de Varembé
CH-1202 Geneva - Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0)22 740 4730
Fax : +41 (0)22 740 1145
E-mail : secretariat@childrightsnet.org
Website: http://www.childrightsnet.org 25
Secretariat contact details
Committee on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities
c/o Office of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
8–14, avenue de la Paix
CH–1211 Geneva 10 - Switzerland
Fax: +41 (0)22 917 90 29
E-mail: crpd@ohchr.org
The Civil Society Unit
OHCHR Civil Society Unit
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
8–14, avenue de la Paix
CH–1211 Geneva 10 - Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 90 00
E-mail: civilsocietyunit@ohchr.org
For requests or information relating to consultative status with ECOSOC
United Nations headquarters
NGO Section
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Section
One UN Plaza, Room DC-1-1480
New York, NY 10017
Phone: +1 212 963 8652
Fax: +1 212 963 9248
E-mail: desangosection@un.org
United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG)
NGO Liaison Office
Office of the Director-General
Office 153, Palais des Nations
8–14, avenue de la Paix
CH-1211 Geneva 10 - Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 21 27
Fax: +41 (0)22 917 05 83
E-mail: ungeneva.ngoliaison@unog.ch
Human Rights Council’s complaint procedure
Human Rights Council Branch (complaint procedure)
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
8–14, avenue de la Paix
CH–1211 Geneva 10 - Switzerland
Fax: +41 (0)22 917 90 11
E-mail: CP@ohchr.org
Contacting special procedures mandate-holders
E-mail: SPDInfo@ohchr.org (for general inquiries and information)
urgent-action@ohchr.org (for individual cases/complaints only)
Fax: +41 (0)22 917 90 06
Post: Quick Response Desk
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
8–14, avenue de la Paix
CH–1211 Geneva 10 - Switzerland
Civil society actors, individually or collectively, may access and work with the special procedures. Unlike the United Nations treaty bodies, special procedures can be activated even where a State has not ratified the relevant instrument or treaty, and it is not necessary to have exhausted domestic remedies to access the special procedures.
Special procedures can therefore be used for any country or human rights issue, within the parameters of existing mandates.
What information should individual complaints under treaty
bodies include?
Basic personal information on the person whose human rights have allegedly been
violated (name, nationality, date of birth);
Name of the State party against which the complaint is directed;
If the complaint is made on behalf of another individual, proof of that person’s
consent or authorization (“power of attorney”, in hard copy) or, alternatively, a
justification of why such consent or authorization is unavailable or cannot be
provided;
A thorough account of the facts on which the complaint is based, clearly presented
in chronological order;
Details of the steps taken to exhaust all available judicial remedies in the local
courts, as well as any effective administrative remedies which might be available
in the State concerned;
Details of other submissions of the case or the facts involved to another means of
international investigation or settlement, if any;
Account of arguments as to why the facts in the case amount to a violation of
the human rights contained in the treaty whose provisions are invoked. It is useful for
the relevant articles of the treaty to be identified;
All documents relevant to the claims and arguments (court decisions, etc.);
Copies of relevant national laws, where available;
As a general rule, communications containing abusive language are not considered.
Standard questionnaires are available for reporting alleged violations
under the following mandates:
Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances
Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of impeding the
Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions
Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to
Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child
Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading
Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and
Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and
Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders.
However, communications from individuals and other sources will be considered
even when they are not submitted in the form of a questionnaire.
OHCHR-administered funds
United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture
United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
8–14, avenue de la Paix
CH–1211 Geneva 10 - Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 93 15
Fax: +41 (0)22 917 90 17
E-mail: unvfvt@ohchr.org
Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations
Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
8–14, avenue de la Paix
CH–1211 Geneva 10 - Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0)22 928 91 64 or +41 (0)22 928 91 42
Fax: +41 (0)22 928 90 66
E-mail: IndigenousFunds@ohchr.org
United Nations Voluntary Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery
United Nations Voluntary Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
8–14, avenue de la Paix
CH–1211 Geneva 10 - Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0)22 928 93 81 or +41 (0)22 928 91 64
Fax: +41 (0)22 928 90 66
E-mail: SlaveryFund@ohchr.org
‘Assisting Communities Together’ (ACT) Project
ACT Project
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
8–14, avenue de la Paix
CH–1211 Geneva 10 - Switzerland
Fax: +41 (0)22 928 90 61
E-mail: ACTProject@ohchr.org
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
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IXWorking with the United Nations Human Rights Programme
A Handbook for Civil Society
Funds administered by other United Nations offices in which OHCHR has
a designated role
United Nations Democracy Fund
United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF)
United Nations
One UN Plaza, Room DC1-1330
New York, NY 10017
United States of America
Phone: +1 917 367 42 10 or +1 917 367 80 62
Fax: +1 212 963 14 86
E-mail: democracyfund@un.org
United Nations Voluntary Fund on Disability
Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Department for Economic and Social Affairs
United Nations
Two UN Plaza, DC2-1372
New York, NY 10017
United States of America
Fax: +1 212 963 01 11
E-mail: enable@un.org
United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
8–14, avenue de la Paix
CH–1211 Geneva 10 - Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0)22 928 93 81 or +41 (0)22 928 91 64
Fax: +41 (0)22 928 90 66
E-mail: SlaveryFund@ohchr.org
Applicants should submit a fully completed application form available on the
OHCHR website.
ACT Project
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
8–14, avenue de la Paix
CH–1211 Geneva 10 - Switzerland
Fax: +41 (0)22 928 90 61
E-mail: ACTProject@ohchr.org
For more information on the ACT Project consult the ACT Project, Assisting
Communities Together brochure for Phases I and II of the Project
on OHCHR’s website.
How to contact UNDEF
United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF)
United Nations
1 UN Plaza, Room DC1-1330
New York, NY 10017
United States of America
Phone: +1 917 367 42 10 or +1 917 367 80 62
Fax: +1 212 963 14 86
E-mail: democracyfund@un.org
For more information, please visit the UNDEF website.
Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Department for Economic and Social Affairs
United Nations
Two UN Plaza, DC2-1372
New York, NY 10017
United States of America
Fax: +1 212 963 01 11
E-mail: enable@un.org
References:
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