The Human Rights and Social Development (HRSD) division provides quality, results-focused and contextually relevant technical assistance, capacity development, research, policy and legal services to SPC member states, and to civil society, to advance human rights, gender equality and social inclusion for all Pacific people, grounded in cultural values and principles, and people-centred approaches.
HRSD Vision
Our vision is for just, equitable resilient and sustainable Pacific island societies. This will be achieved by advancing human rights and good governance, gender equality and social inclusion, and positive expressions of Pacific culture, underpinned by a people-centred approach.
Five objectives capture how HRSD will strategically work with institutions, civil society, SPC programmes and divisions and internally within the Division as well as more broadly to promote positive expressions of Pacific culture.
HRSD Themes
Regional Frameworks
SPC is custodian of 8 out of the 22 regional frameworks in the Pacific region. HRSD is custodian of the following Regional Frameworks:
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- Pacific Platform for Action on Gender Equality and Women's Human Rights 2018–2030
- The Pacific Youth Development Framework 2014-2023
- The Pacific Regional Culture Strategy 2022 - 2032
A Strategic Approach
The HRSD Division’s strategic approach contributes directly to important international, regional and organisational commitments, strategies and frameworks, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and the SPC Strategic Plan 2022–2031.
Despite Pacific Island Countries’ governments’ efforts to translate commitments to social development, human rights, and gender equality into tangible benefits on the ground, challenges persist. These exist in the form of socio-economic inequalities, rights violations, gender-based violence, and discriminatory norms against women, girls, LGBTQI+ individuals, and persons with disabilities, which hampers their access to social services and economic opportunities. Culture and youth development remain under-resourced and undervalued, compounded by the anticipated impacts of the climate crisis, posing significant challenges to both human rights and social development in the Pacific.
SPC HRSD continuously plays a vital role supporting the SPC member countries to meet their international, regional, and national human rights commitments. These are guided by nine core international human rights instruments:
- International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
- International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
- Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
- Convention on the Rights of the Child
- International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
- International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance
- Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
HRSD provides financial assistance and various forms of technical assistance supporting both state and shadow treaty reporting and Universal Periodic Review (UPR). HRSD provides a comprehensive suite of technical assistance for writeshops, training, policy and legislative advice, and other capacity building technical assistance in line with the UN mechanisms and mandates of treaty and UPR reporting.
HRSD Business Plan
The HRSD Business Plan 2021–2026 outlines how HRSD will achieve success against its vision and objectives through priority areas and capabilities, with its partners.
HRSD is a key contributor to and implementer of SPC’s flagship programmes, Climate Change, Gender Equality, Oceans and Food Systems. The Gender Equality Flagship is led by the SPC Executive Office through the Principal Strategic Lead, with HRSD providing technical support and anchor investment. The Gender Equality Flagship will provide an over-arching framework for action on the cross-cutting issue of gender inequality. It will serve to connect the critical resources (projects, funding, and people) that support gender equality in pursuit of the goals outlined in SPC’s Strategic Plan 2022–2031, 2050 Blue Pacific Strategic, the Pacific Platform for Action and other international, regional and national commitments on gender equality made by SPC members.
The Women in Leadership (WIL) Programme is SPC’s institutional response and commitment to supporting gender equality and empowerment of women . It is the first internal gender mainstreaming programme in SPC and in CROP agencies, its member countries and territories, and other CROP agencies. Its aim is to support women’s leadership roles and pathways within SPC. It is led by the SPC Executive Office, with HRSD providing technical and operational support. WIL programme will enhance SPC’s corporate direction to embed substantive equality through a change in organisational culture, strengthening of accountability mechanisms, policies and procedures.
Find out more.
HRSD Values
Reporting misconduct
To report allegations of potential misconduct by an SPC staff member or contractor including fraud, corruption, discrimination, bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, violence, domestic violence, child and vulnerable adult protection you can email [email protected]. Find out more: https://www.spc.int/accountability