This paper provides practical insights into the functioning of human rights and gender components by describing how they are put into practice, drawing on best practice examples. The best practice examples included in this study are programmes, projects, and activities that have immediately contributed to the promotion and protection of human rights in host countries or facilitated the integration of gender perspectives into activities undertaken by peace operations aimed at supporting and strengthening peace processes.
Key findings:
- Although integrated human rights and gender components have become common features of United Nations (UN) and European Union (EU) peace operations, each component operates in very unique circumstances. Their scope and impact are influenced by various preconditions. Provisions of the mission mandate; the political will of international and local authorities; the resources provided; the general security situation; and the existence of infrastructure in host countries are factors which may either severely limit or strongly promote the functioning of human rights and gender components. Given these preconditions, each human rights and gender component has to develop appropriate strategies to successfully put its mandate into effect.
- An essential requirement for the effective functioning of human rights and gender components is their provision with adequate resources, particularly in terms of skilled staff. In practice the recruitment of qualified human rights and gender staff has proved to be a challenging undertaking. In addition to the key importance of individual personalities, the support human rights and gender components receive from a mission’s leadership has also proved to be highly relevant. The leadership of a peace operation is the senior representative of the implementing organisation in the host country, and thus establishes the overall framework that guides the activities of the mission within the parameters of its mandate, ensuring that all mission components pursue a coordinated and coherent approach.
- Constructive cooperation with and serious commitment of other mission components to human rights and gender issues have also proved to be essential when implementing human rights and gender mandates. The commitment of all components of a peace operation to integrate gender perspectives into their programs and activities is of key importance with respect to the successful functioning of gender components. Gender is a cross-cutting issue requiring the implementation of a mission-wide approach.
- Although human rights components make strong contributions to the promotion and protection of human rights, the fulfilment of human rights in host countries is a state obligation and thus requires political will on part of national authorities. The function of human rights components is to support host governments and national authorities in meeting their human rights commitments.
- The sustainability and long-term impact of efforts undertaken by human rights and gender components has been a concern in most peace operations. In many countries, an appropriate step to ensure lasting impact of human rights components will be the strengthening of national institutions and capacities to take over human rights functions from peace operations. These could continue to promote and protect human rights on the ground.
