UN-OHRLLS - Understanding its Role & Functions | UPSC Notes

Overview of UN-OHRLLS

The UN-OHRLLS was established as per United Nations resolution 56/227 in 2001.

• The organization's main objective is to gather international support and advocate for three vulnerable groups of countries by highlighting their environmental, social, and economic potentials.
• It assists these vulnerable groups of countries in overcoming the challenges they face in achieving sustainable development and internationally agreed goals.
• Alongside national governments and their development partners, the organization operates with the backing of academia, civil society, media, and foundations.

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Functions of UN-OHRLLS

The UN-OHRLLS serves 91 vulnerable Member States of the United Nations and advocates for the following three groups of countries:

1. Least Developed Countries (LDCs): These are the most impoverished, vulnerable countries within the UN system.
   • The UN-OHRLLS leads the coordination of the United Nations System and other stakeholders in supporting the sustainable development of these Least Developed Countries.
2. Landlocked Developing Countries: These countries face significant challenges due to their isolation and lack of or limited access to the sea, which results in a considerable distance from global markets.
   • The organization works to enhance synergies between the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries.
3. Small Island Developing States (SIDS): SIDS are a collection of developing countries facing specific environmental, social, and economic vulnerabilities. These states are located in three geographical regions: the Caribbean, the Pacific, and the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and the South China Sea (AIS).
   • The organization plays a crucial role in raising awareness of the unique case of small island developing States at the national, regional, and global levels.

Programme of Action:

• Each of these three groups of countries follows a distinct Programme of Action that guides the development work of countries, states, their partners, UN-OHRLLS, and other stakeholders.
• Every ten years, each Programme is reviewed, and a new set of goals is established for each group for the next decade.