The UN Human Rights Office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (UN Human Rights – Palestine) is the only UN mandated entity to monitor and report publicly on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), and is the official United Nations voice on human rights in the OPT. 

UN Human Rights – Palestine implements the broad mandate of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to promote and protect the effective enjoyment and full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all people, without discrimination, in the OPT. This mandate includes monitoring and reporting, technical assistance, capacity building of the Palestinian Authority, and coordination of Protection Cluster under the humanitarian response. In addition, the Office is specifically mandated by Human Rights Council resolutions S-9/1 and S-12/1 of 2009 to report regularly on the human rights situation in the OPT, including East Jerusalem. It also has annual mandates to monitor and publicly report on developments related to settlements and on accountability. 

Pursuant to its mandate, UN Human Rights submits periodic reports of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to the Human Rights Council and leads in the preparation of the reports of the Secretary-General on human rights to the General Assembly and other United Nations bodies.  

In fulfilling its mandate, UN Human Rights – Palestine is guided by the principles and spirit of international human rights law and international humanitarian law. Respect for human dignity and non-discrimination is at the core of our work, and we are committed to the values of impartiality, objectivity, accountability and professionalism. 

UN Human Rights – Palestine is involved in the whole spectrum of United Nations engagement from peace and security and humanitarian response to the development agenda, and brings a human rights perspective to the work of the United Nations in these areas. UN Human Rights – Palestine is a member of the United Nations Country Team and the Humanitarian Country Team. 

UN Human Rights – Palestine works for all rights holders and victims of human rights violations, with particular attention to marginalized and vulnerable groups. In doing so, we work with Israeli and Palestinian authorities that have legal obligations under international law, including executive, legislative and judicial bodies, with Palestinians, Israeli and international NGOs and community-based organizations, and with the Palestinian national human rights institution. We work in partnership with other members of United Nations family and international human rights mechanisms, and the international community.