The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) encourages the international community and its member States to uphold universally agreed human rights standards. OHCHR alerts governments and the world community to the daily reality that these standards are too often ignored or unfulfilled and to be the voice for the victims of human rights violations everywhere. OHCHR presses the international community to take the steps that can prevent violations, including support for the right to development.

OHCHR engages in a dialogue with the government on human rights with the aim of strengthening national capacity to protect human rights. It provides advisory services and technical assistance when requested.

OHCHR helps other parts of the United Nations to integrate human rights into their own work. OHCHR also works closely with non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions.

Regional Representatives have been appointed to enable OHCHR to adopt a strategic approach to work at the country and regional level and to assist countries that have no human rights field presence. Representatives work closely with governments, UN country teams, international and regional organization, national human rights institutions, non-governmental organizations and academic institutions.

The office of the Regional Representative for Asia-Pacific was established in January 2002. It is hosted by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia-Pacific (ESCAP) in Bangkok, to which it also provides human rights advice. The Regional Representative, together with staff in OHCHR headquarters in Geneva and field presence in individual countries, promotes respect for and observance of all human rights for all across the whole Asia-Pacific region.