VZCZCXRO6915
PP RUEHAT
DE RUEHGV #2993/01 3261744
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 221744Z NOV 06
FM USMISSION GENEVA
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1699
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1892
INFO RUEHZJ/HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
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