HRC: PRESIDENT'S PROPOSED DECISION FOR FUNDING OF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GENEVA 002993 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS IO FOR DAS/LAGON, DRL FOR DAS/BARKS-RUGGLES E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM UNHRC AORC SUBJECT: HRC: PRESIDENT'S PROPOSED DECISION FOR FUNDING OF HRC ¶1. (U) Human Rights Council President Luis Alfonso de Alba has circulated the text of a Presidential decision to be adopted by consensus during the third regular session of the Council, 11/27-12/8, requesting adequate funding for the HRC to discharge its responsibilities under UNGA resolution 60/251. (Text at para 4). During November 17 informals de Alba had alerted delegations to his plan to propose such a decision, which after adoption by the HRC, would be forwarded to the Fifth Committee in New York. According to de Alba, he is acting after consulting with financial and resource officers at the UN in New York and with certain members of the Fifth Committee. ¶2. (U) In informals November 22, de Alba said that OP1 of the decision was deliberately vague -- not specifying the number of sessions for which funding would be required -- to allow for flexibility in sessions. He said that in addition to the 10 weeks of regular sessions to be held during the usual UN meeting hours of 10:00-1:00 and 3:00-6:00, he wanted to be able, if necessary, to schedule sessions during the lunch break, after hours, or on weekends if the situation demanded it. De Alba explained the need for a contingency fund to allow for the implementation of HRC decisions -- "extraordinary expenses." ¶3. (SBU) Comment: De Alba's concern regarding the need for additional resources is valid to a point. The Secretariat, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and Conference Services have felt the strain on finances and personnel of the HRC's more demanding schedule. While the now-defunct Commission on Human Rights met for one six-week session a year, the Council meets for a minimum of three sessions for a total of 10 weeks per year. In addition, the special sessions mechanism allows meetings to be called by Council members without reference to the costs involved. During this first year there are also the additional costs of supporting the working groups on Universal Periodic Review and Mandate Review. We are skeptical, however, of the need for extraordinary meetings in the evenings and/or weekends. More efficient management by the Council president and the bureau should obviate the need for extraordinary sessions, except for the most extreme and rare circumstances. The request for a separate contingency fund for implementing HRC decisions is a direct consequence of the four resolutions against Israel, all of which have mandated country visits by the rapporteurs or commissions of inquiry. ¶4. (U) Decision Text: Draft proposal from the President of the Human Rights Council 20 November 2006 The Human Rights Council, PP 1. Recalling the General Assembly resolution 60/251 which decided, among others, that the Council shall meet regularly throughout the year and schedule no fewer than three sessions per year, including a main session, for a total duration of no less than ten weeks, and shall be able to hold special sessions, when needed, at the request of a member of the Council with the support of one third of the membership of the Council; PP 2. Reaffirming the importance of the promotion of multilingualism within the United Nations; PP 3. Taking into account its heavy schedule of work and the difficulties encountered in obtaining the necessary conference services particularly during its first institution-building year; PP 4. Taking also into account the need to ensure the necessary financial resources in order to implement its decisions, including the holding of Special sessions and the decisions emanating there from; OP 1. Reaffirms the need to ensure the necessary Secretariat support and financial resources for the Council in order to fully discharge its mandate as stipulated in the General Assembly resolution 60/251; OP 2. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the 61st General Assembly at the earliest possible date but before the first resumed session of the Fifth Committee, on ways to guarantee the provision of the needed conference services, the possibility of establishment of a contingency fund under the regular budget to provide timely financing for unforeseen and extraordinary expenses arising in the implementation of GENEVA 00002993 002 OF 002 the decisions of the Council and the necessary support from the Secretariat for its work as well as the implementation of its decisions. TICHENOR