Working with local volunteers in the Andean and Amazon regions, Jose Carlo Burga, a Peruvian UNVolunteer, has sparked renewed interest in local culture and human rights. Young indigenous volunteers, who rarely communicate in their mother tongues in this Spanishspeaking society, found themselves working closely with village elders, rediscovering the value of their language and gaining an understanding of their rights. With UNDP's assistance, they translated the Universal Declaration of Human Rights into eight indigenous languages.

Jose Carlo, an active member of the UN Interagency Group of Human Rights, also supports the Association of Bolivian Female Municipal Councillors (ACOBOL). Working with women representatives who have limited political experience, he focuses on strengthening their managerial and leadership skills to help them better serve their constituencies. By triggering this series of initiatives, he has not only empowered human rights groups in Bolivia but has linked their achievements to a network of rights advocates worldwide.

Sharing news of his work online, Jose Carlo is part of a global network of 17 UN Volunteers under the Human Rights Strengthening Programme (HURIST), a joint initiative of UNDP and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to mainstream human rights into the development programming of UN agencies. While interacting with civil society organizations, the UN Volunteers assist these local associations in promoting a public dialogue on human rights.

Also part of the HURIST programme is Artashes Melikyan, an Armenian UN Volunteer serving in Kazakhstan, who is supporting the Government in creating an ombudsman law and office to investigate individual human rights complaints.
He provides reports and analysis on the human rights situation throughout the country and trains Government, NGOs, mass media and academic institutions on issues of international human rights law and its application. In Yemen, HURIST UN Volunteer Shanti Risal of Nepal works with women's groups and other NGOs to help ensure that vulnerable citizens, including many who are illiterate, are informed of their rights and gain access to basic education, health and food.

• In Madagascar, 27 UN Volunteers fan out across the crowded Andohatapenaka and Anatihazo districts of the capital Antananarivo, meeting with poor young people and their families to encourage a safe, productive lifestyle. They assess community needs and look for ways to prevent violent acts by engaging people in constructive alternatives such as vocational training and sports. The UN Volunteers coordinate activities of local authorities, NGOs and volunteer community groups as part of this overall effort to stem violence.
• Supporting the legal system in Haiti, a team of 13 UN Volunteers provide training in governance to judges, court clerks and wardens through the Ministry of Justice, the magistrates' school, prisons, the ombudsman's office and NGOs. In a bid to help consolidate the rule of law and human rights protection in the country, the UN Volunteers conduct surveys, prepare training manuals and monitor implementation in the jurisdictions of Port-de-Paix, Jacmel and Fort-Liberte.