91.      The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the system of human rights treaties together provide a comprehensive framework for action by Member States and by the organizations of the UN system. Within this framework, the UN system contributes to advancing human rights by:

• promoting the signing and ratification of human rights-related international treaties;

• supporting the UN human rights mechanisms, both governmental and expert;

• assisting in the development and clarification of human rights norms and standards;

• addressing issues of impunity, particularly during, but also after conflict;

• extending assistance to governments and civil society organizations in promoting and protecting human rights;

• supporting human rights education programmes;

• helping to develop and monitor the independence of the judiciary;

• promoting women's human rights and the elimination of violence against women, including through assisting the effective implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women;

• increasing knowledge of governments, civil society organizations and UN partners in the practical application of human rights instruments to advance public health, particularly child and adolescent health and reproductive health;

• promoting greater awareness of the links between human rights, gender and HIV/AIDS, in order to strengthen responses to the pandemic; and

• extending support in respect of prison and detention centre monitoring.

92.      In response to the Millennium Declaration, the UN system has initiated a major renewed effort to mainstream human rights in its activities and programmes and to pursue a rights-based approach to development.

93.      To achieve greater coherence in UN efforts to build national systems of human rights protection, the Office of the High-Commissioner for Human rights (OHCHR) and its UN system partners are pursuing the "Action 2 Initiative," put forward in the Secretary- General's 2002 report on UN reform. Action 2 seeks to foster a common understanding of the linkages between human rights, development and humanitarian assistance throughout the UN system. It has led to the establishment of thematic groups dealing with human rights issues in UN country teams and has promoted joint programming to support national efforts to foster a culture of human rights. It also aims to support Member States in the ratification of human rights treaties. As part of Action 2, human rights advisers have been assigned to a number of UN country offices, in order to enhance assistance by UN country teams in creating and strengthening national systems of human rights protection. In a related effort, steps are being taken to enhance OHCHR's capacity to train UN country teams.

94.      The Millennium Declaration puts a strong emphasis on protecting the vulnerable. Since its adoption, inter-agency collaboration on that front has intensified, particularly in protecting the human rights of women, indigenous peoples, children and migrants. (See also box 2.12, Inter-agency collaboration on gender equality and empowerment of women.)