10 December marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly. In light of current and persistent authoritarian abuses and reprehensible measures taken in the fight against terrorism, efforts to strengthen human rights are as essential today as they were in 1948. As we approach the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, this year's Human Rights Day is therefore an opportunity for the SDC to take stock of its engagement for human rights.
Human rights and development are mutually reinforcing. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Dispatch on Switzerland's International Cooperation 2017–2020 and the FDFA Human Rights Strategy 2016–19 underscore both at the global and national levels the essential role of human rights in promoting peaceful, just and inclusive societies. The importance of human rights is also reflected in the role they play in sectoral and political dialogue with our partner countries and in the SDC's statements in international bodies.
The SDC strengthens human rights actors and key mechanisms in its partner countries, for example through its support for a national human rights commission in Afghanistan, a juvenile justice programme in Bosnia and civil society organisations in Honduras.
SDC activities in facts and figures
The SDC invests substantial financial resources in programmes designed to promote human rights at various levels. Its long-term commitment in partner countries is based on thorough analyses of our partner countries’ contexts and aligned with needs and priorities. In 2017, the SDC is running 52 human rights programmes with an overall budget of between CHF 37 and 40 million. The majority of these programmes concern Africa (including the Middle East) and South Asia. The SDC's priority regions are the Great Lakes, the occupied Palestinian territory and Nepal. The SDC carries out most of its activities through programmes implemented by partners (international, Swiss, local NGOs and UN agencies alike).
Looking at human rights-related programmes from a broader perspective, the SDC is active in 271 programmes that contribute directly or indirectly to human rights, and has earmarked a substantial sum of over CHF 340 million for this purpose for 2017. These projects encompass traditional human rights activities such as providing support for institutions that facilitate electoral processes, as well as projects that promote freedom of the press and civic education programmes. In addition, one of the key priorities of humanitarian aid is to protect the most vulnerable in situations of natural disasters and armed conflict.
