UN human rights organization's reshuffle to boost presence in regional, field offices

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, said there would be a significant reorganization of his office at the Monday opening of the 28th Human Rights Council session here.

He said the reshuffling would be based on the outcomes of an extensive functional review, and essential restructuring would be undertaken to boost the presence in regional and field offices, in order to assist European Union Member States more directly and effectively.

Addressing the High-Level Segment of the Human Rights Council on Monday, the commissioner said human rights were being disregarded and violated "with alarming regularity" and "sometimes to a shocking degree."

According to Ra'ad Al Hussein, the overwhelming majority of victims of human rights abuses around the world share two characteristics: deprivation and discrimination. The official warned, "If we are not careful, if we are not completely principled and cunning in our collective attempt to defang (the perpetrators), we will, unwittingly and inexcusably, be advancing their interests."

"Whether it is based on race or ethnicity, gender, beliefs, sexual orientation, caste or class, from hunger to massacres, sexual violence and slavery, human rights violations are rooted in these hidden, and sometimes not so hidden, factors," he said in his speech, adding that most violations of human rights result from policy choices, which limit freedom and participation, and create obstacles to the fair sharing of resources and opportunities.

The 28th UN Human Rights Council session runs until March 27, with nearly 100 officials attending a variety of its discussions. Endit