2024 PBF Thematic Review: Synergies between Human Rights and Peacebuilding in PBF-supported Programming

The 2024 PBF Thematic Review on the Synergies between Human Rights and Peacebuilding in PBF-supported Programming, commissioned by the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs' Peacebuilding Support Office in partnership with OHCHR and Switzerland, and led by the UN University’s Centre for Policy Research, outlines programmatic best practices and lessons learned drawing on examples from 92 PBF-funded projects spanning 45 countries and territories between 2017-2022. Informed by three in-depth case studies – Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and relating to hate speech and disinformation – the Review covers a range of human rights themes, including transitional justice, civic space, protection of human rights defenders, gender equality and women’s empowerment, gender-based violence, access to justice, support for National Human Rights Institutions, and strengthening state institutions. Some of the key findings and recommendations include:

• Transitional Justice: Multi-dimensional approaches – combining transitional justice consultations with institutional support in the justice sector, as well as community cohesion and socioeconomic components – are more successful in advancing transitional justice and reconciliation than human rights tools alone. Transitional justice efforts incubating at a subnational level can be a way to build momentum and gain traction, before scaling nationally. Supporting dissemination and outreach of transitional justice findings is equally important in ensuring the transitional justice legacy – “gap-filling” and continuing funding may be necessary to achieve this.
   
• Hate Speech in Electoral Contexts: Where UN support is requested in an electoral context, those working in this space might consider incorporating counter-hate speech and disinformation tools; increasing evidence suggests this is an important violence prevention tool in a range of electoral contexts and merits further expansion. Women are more likely to be targeted by hate speech in electoral contexts, and further responses to gender-based hate speech are needed globally.
   
• Virtual or Hybrid Peacebuilding: Counter-hate speech programming is pioneering virtual or hybrid peacebuilding through online dialogue platforms and use of technological tools alongside traditional peacebuilding. However, there is a need for greater attention to human rights standards and safeguards in the development and use of technological tools that monitor or block speech. Combining hate speech-focused interventions with traditional peacebuilding approaches aimed at defusing root causes of tensions, encouraging resilience and social cohesion, can lead to more durable outcomes.
   
• Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR): To address protection and gender inequality, taking a balanced approach – working with both duty-bearers and rights-holders – is key for advancing rights protection and harm prevention. A project approach that combines dialogue and awareness on rights with peacebuilding strategies for stakeholder engagement, addressing community tensions, and considering socio-economic vulnerabilities and needs, can make concrete advancements in equitable working conditions for women. Attention to ESCR can also better enable youth to take on the role of peacebuilders and rights champions.
   
• Catalytic Effect and Sustainability: Seeding capacity for critical change through investing in the capacities of civil society organizations, and supporting linkages between different rights networks and groups, may be among the most catalytic and sustainable of investments. At the same time, investing in more iterative project strategies may help overcome sustainability challenges and may be better suited to the pace and demands of human rights and peacebuilding projects.