Sixty-first session Agenda items 68 and 117 Report of the Human Rights Council Programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 Revised estimates resulting from resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council at its resumed second session, its third session and its third special session in 2006 Report of the Secretary-General Summary The present report describes the budgetary requirements resulting from resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council at its resumed second session, its third session and its third special session in 2006. The report follows the earlier report on the revised estimates resulting from the resolutions and decisions adopted by the Council at its first session and its first and second special sessions in 2006 (A/61/530). The expenditure requirements arising as a result of the subsequent resolutions and decisions that are the subject of this report are estimated at $1,571,600. It is envisaged that, to the extent possible, this amount would be accommodated within the existing appropriation for the biennium 2006-2007 and reported in the context of the second performance report on the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007. Furthermore, the indicative requirements for the biennium 2008-2009, estimated at $755,100, will be considered in the context of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009. I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted to inform the General Assembly of the requirements resulting from the resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council at its resumed second session, its third session and its third special session in 2006. 2. The Council adopted a number of resolutions and decisions in which it authorized relevant human rights bodies to continue or undertake additional activities, including meetings, in excess of the resources approved in the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 and which would affect the estimates of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009. In accordance with rule 153 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, the Council was provided, where appropriate, with a statement of programme budget implications prior to the adoption of its resolutions and decisions. The additional requirements associated with the resolutions and decisions adopted are described below. 3. Regarding additional conference-servicing requirements, in each relevant case the Council was informed of the full cost of the additional services to be provided and any potential for absorption of the requirements within the approved appropriations, as applicable. It should be noted that the Secretary-General has already issued a report on the revised estimates resulting from resolutions, decisions and President’s statements adopted by the Council at its first session and its first and second special sessions in 2006 (A/61/530), which proposed absorption of $1,704,700 within the appropriation approved under sections 23, Human rights, and 28E, Administration, Geneva, for the biennium 2006-2007. II. Additional requirements relating to the resolutions adopted by the Human Rights Council A. Resolution S-3/1. Human rights violations emanating from Israeli military incursions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the recent one in northern Gaza and the siege of Beit Hanoun 4. Under the terms of paragraphs 6, 7 and 8 of resolution S-3/1, the Human Rights Council: (a) Decided to dispatch a high-level fact-finding mission urgently to Beit Hanoun to investigate human rights violations resulting from the recent Israeli assaults, including the killings of civilians and destruction of property and infrastructure therein; (b) Requested the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide all administrative, technical and logistical assistance required to enable the fact-finding mission to fulfil its mandate promptly and efficiently; (c) Requested the fact-finding mission to report to the Council no later than the middle of December 2006 on progress made towards the fulfilment of its mandate. 5. At the time of adoption of resolution S-3/1 by the Council, the Secretariat informed it that the terms of the resolution required analysis and review of the level of resources required to implement the related activities. Owing to the one-day duration of the third special session of the Council, there was insufficient time for the Secretariat to prepare and present a related statement of administrative and financial implications of the resolution. In an oral statement to the Council, the Secretariat informed it that the resources required to implement the resolution would, to the extent possible, be met from resources approved by the General Assembly under section 23, Human rights, of the programme budget in the biennium 2006-2007. 6. Following the third special session of the Council, the Secretariat carried out a review of the implications of the resolution to determine the level of resources required to implement the related activities. It is estimated that $130,500 would be required to provide for travel of experts ($70,500), travel of staff ($22,300), consultancy for one month ($7,000), security officers ($17,500) and general operating expenses and other miscellaneous requirements ($13,200). A thorough review of the resources available under section 23, Human rights, of the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 leads the Secretariat to conclude that the requirement of $130,500 could be accommodated under section 23. B. Resolution 3/2. Preparations for the Durban Review Conference 7. Under the terms of paragraphs 1 and 2 of resolution 3/2, the Human Rights Council decided: (a) That the Council would act as the Preparatory Committee for the Durban Review Conference, which would be open to the participation of all Member States of the United Nations and members of the specialized agencies and also with the participation of observers in accordance with the established practice of the General Assembly; (b) That the Preparatory Committee would hold an organizational session of one week in May 2007, at the level of personal representatives of the Heads of State or Government or other appropriate high-level representatives designated for that purpose by Governments, and two substantive sessions of 10 working days each during 2007 and 2008 in Geneva. 8. At the time of adoption of the resolution by the Council, the Secretariat informed it that requirements would arise to implement the activities called for in paragraphs 1 and 2 to provide for conference services and general temporary assistance for the biennium 2006-2007, estimated at $441,600, and for the biennium 2008-2009, estimated at $303,300, as follows: United States dollars 2006-2007 2008-2009 Section 2 General Assembly and Economic and Social Council affairs and conference management 377 700 242 700 Section 23 Human rights 54 000 54 000 Section 23E Administration, Geneva 9 900 6 600 Total 441 600 303 300 9. The Council was informed at the time of adoption of the resolution that no provisions had been included in the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 for these additional activities and that the indicative requirements for the biennium 2008-2009 would be considered in the context of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009. The Council was also informed that the Secretariat would seek to identify areas from which resources could be redeployed to meet the requirements arising from the resolution. The results of that review indicated that the requirements under section 23, Human rights ($54,000), could be met from the existing appropriation for the biennium 2006-2007. In addition, the requirements under sections 2, General Assembly and Economic and Social Council affairs and conference management ($377,700), and 28E, Administration, Geneva ($9,900) would, to the fullest extent possible, also be accommodated within the existing appropriation and reported in the context of the second performance report on the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007. C. Resolution 3/4. Implementation of General Assembly resolution 60/251: agenda, annual programme of work, methods of work and rules of procedure of the Human Rights Council 10. Under the terms of paragraphs 1, 2 and 5 of resolution 3/4, the Human Rights Council: (a) Decided to establish an open-ended intergovernmental, intersessional working group to formulate specific recommendations on its agenda, annual programme of work, methods of work and rules of procedure, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 60/251, to undertake transparent, well scheduled and inclusive consultations, with the participation of all stakeholders; (b) Also decided that the working group would have at its disposal 10 days of fully serviced meetings, half of them to be scheduled before the fourth session of the Human Rights Council and half of them before its fifth session, which would allow sufficient time and flexibility for the fulfilment of its mandate; (c) Requested the working group to report to the Council at its fourth session on progress made. 11. The Council was informed at the time of its adoption of the resolution that the total full costs for conference servicing of the working group were estimated at $241,400 for the biennium 2006-2007, as follows: 2006-2007 United States dollars Section 2 General Assembly and Economic and Social Council affairs and conference management 235 000 Section 28E Administration, Geneva 6 400 Total 241 400 12. The Council was also informed that no provisions had been included in the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 for these additional activities. The Council was further informed that the Secretariat would seek to identify areas from which resources could be redeployed to meet the requirements arising from the resolution. The results of that review indicated that the requirements under sections 2, General Assembly and Economic and Social Council affairs and conference management ($235,000), and 28E, Administration, Geneva ($6,400) would, to the fullest extent possible, be accommodated within the existing appropriation and reported in the context of the second performance report on the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007. D. Decision 2/109. Effects of economic reform policies and foreign debt on the full enjoyment of all human rights 13. Under the terms of decision 2/109, the Human Rights Council decided to request the High Commissioner for Human Rights to convene an expert consultation to discuss the proposed draft general guidelines on the matter and to invite the international financial institutions, notably the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, as well as regional developments banks, relevant United Nations entities and national experts and stakeholders, to contribute to the consultations. 14. The adoption of the decision by the Council and its expected adoption by the General Assembly gives rise to total full costs of conference servicing for a three-day expert consultation in Geneva, travel and daily subsistence allowance for seven experts and related consultancy amounting to $151,000 in the biennium 2006-2007, as follows: 2006-2007 United States dollars Section 2 General Assembly and Economic and Social Council affairs and conference management 80 700 Section 23 Human rights 68 500 Section 28E Administration, Geneva 1 800 Total 151 000 15. The Council was also informed that no provisions had been included in the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 for these additional activities. The Council was also informed that the Secretariat would seek to identify areas from which resources could be redeployed to meet the requirements arising from the resolution. The results of that review indicated that the requirements under sections 2, General Assembly and Economic and Social Council affairs and conference management ($80,700), 23, Human rights ($68,500), and 28E, Administration, Geneva ($1,800), would be met from the existing appropriation for the biennium 2006-2007. Therefore no additional appropriation would be required. E. Decision 3/103. Global efforts for the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action 16. Under the terms of subparagraphs (a)-(d), (f), (i) and (j) of decision 3/103, the Human Rights Council decided: (a) To heed the decision and instruction of the 2001 World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance by establishing an ad hoc committee of the Human Rights Council on the elaboration of complementary standards, with the mandate to develop, as a matter of priority and necessity, complementary standards in the form of either a convention or additional protocol(s) to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (General Assembly resolution 2106 (XX), annex), filling the existing gaps in the Convention and also providing new normative standards aimed at combating all forms of contemporary racism, including incitement to racial and religious hatred; (b) To recommend that the ad hoc committee convene annual sessions of 10 working days to draw up the requisite legal instruments and hold its first session before the end of 2007, subject to the working group’s having completed its task on complementary standards by that date, and to report regularly to the Council on progress in the actual process of the development of complementary standards; (c) To welcome the recent appointment of the five experts on complementary standards by the High Commissioner for Human Rights with the mandate to produce a base document outlining the substantive gaps in the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and to make specific recommendations on the means and avenues to bridge those gaps; (d) To request the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action to invite the five experts to the first part of its fifth session, with a view to a preliminary exchange of views and vision on complementary standards as a provisional measure pending the completion of their report; (e) To recommend that the Intergovernmental Working Group convene the second part of its fifth session in September 2007 and that that session mark the conclusion and closure of its debates and deliberations on the question of complementary standards; (f) To request that the Ad Hoc Committee convene its first session before the end of 2007 and use all the documents presented to it as background material for commencing its process of developing complementary standards, and that one of its main priorities be to ensure that the draft instrument(s) is/are produced for negotiation; (g) To request the High Commissioner for Human Rights to give visibility and a high profile to the Anti-Discrimination Unit within her Office and provide it with all the necessary and additional resources to ensure its effectiveness, in particular in view of the current challenges of racial and religious discrimination, so that the Unit ensures that the High Commissioner makes a positive contribution and plays a leadership role in the global efforts to combat all the resurgent scourges of racism. 17. At the time of adoption of the decision by the Council, the Secretariat informed it that requirements for conference services in the amount of $607,100 would arise for the biennium 2006-2007 and $451,800 for the biennium 2008-2009, as follows: United States dollars 2006-2007 2008-2009 Section 2 General Assembly and Economic and Social Council affairs and conference management 594 100 439 100 Section 28E Administration, Geneva 13 000 12 700 Total 607 100 451 800 18. The Council was informed that no provisions had been included in the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 for these additional activities and that the indicative requirements for the biennium 2008-2009 would be considered in the context of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009. The Council was also informed that the Secretariat would seek to identify areas from which resources could be redeployed to meet the requirements arising from the decision. The results of that review indicated that the requirements under sections 2, General Assembly and Economic and Social Council affairs and conference management ($594,100), and 28E, Administration, Geneva ($13,000), would, to the fullest extent possible, be accommodated within the existing appropriation and reported in the context of the second performance report on the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007. III. Overall requirements and conclusion 19. The implications of resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council at its resumed second session, its third session and its third special session in 2006 would give rise to total requirements of $1,571,600, of which the Council was informed that $335,500 could be absorbed, $80,700 under section 2, General Assembly and Economic and Social Council affairs and conference management, $253,000 under section 23, Human rights, and $1,800 under section 28E, Administration, Geneva. Of the $1,236,100 required in addition to the resources already appropriated in the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007, it is proposed that the requirements under sections 2 and 28E would, to the fullest extent possible, be accommodated within the existing appropriation and reported in the context of the second performance report on the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007. The above information is summarized in the annex to the present report. IV. Conclusion 20. At the present time, the requirements resulting from resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council at its resumed second session, its third session and its third special session in 2006 would be met to the fullest extent possible from the appropriation of the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 and reported, as necessary, in the context of the second performance report. 21. The indicative requirements of $755,100, relating to the biennium 2008-2009, would be considered in the context of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009. Annex Summary of requirements resulting from resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council at its resumed second session, its third session and its third special session in 2006 (United States dollars) 2006-2007 Requirements for 2008-2009 to be considered in the context of the proposed programme budget for 2008-2009 Resolutions/decisions of the Human Rights Council Budget section Requirements To be accommodated from the existing appropriationa Resolutions S-3/1 Human rights violations emanating from Israeli military incursions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the recent one in northern Gaza and the siege of Beit Hanoun 23 130 500 130 500 3/2 Preparations for the Durban Review Conference 2 23 28E 377 700 54 000 9 900 377 700 54 000 9 900 242 700 54 000 6 600 3/4 Implementation of General Assembly resolution 60/251: agenda, annual programme of work, methods of work and rules of procedure of the Human Rights Council 2 28E 235 000 6 400 235 000 6 400 Decisions 2/109 Effects of economic reform policies and foreign debt on the full enjoyment of all human rights 2 23 28E 80 700 68 500 1 800 80 700 68 600 1 800 3/103 Global efforts for the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action 2 28E 594 100 13 000 594 100 13 000 439 100 12 700 Total 1 571 600 1 571 600 755 100 a To be accommodated within the existing appropriation to the fullest extent possible and, as necessary, reported in the context of the second performance report of the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007.   sss1 \* MERGEFORMAT A/61/530/Add.1 sss1 \* MERGEFORMAT A/61/530/Add.1 FooterJN \* MERGEFORMAT 06-65687 \* MERGEFORMAT 8 \* MERGEFORMAT 9 FooterJN \* MERGEFORMAT 06-65687 United Nations A/61/530/Add.1 General Assembly Distr.: General 13 December 2006 Original: English jobn \* MERGEFORMAT 06-65687 (E) 141206 Barcode \* MERGEFORMAT *0665687*