Sixtieth session Agenda items 46, 120 and 124 Integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields Follow-up to the outcome of the Millennium Summit Programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 Human Rights Council Programme budget implications of draft resolution A/60/L.48 Thirty-fifth report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions 1. The Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions has considered the statement submitted by the Secretary-General (A/C.5/60/28) in accordance with rule 153 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly on the programme budget implications of draft resolution A/60/L.48. 2. Under the terms of draft resolution A/60/L.48, the General Assembly would, inter alia, decide to establish the Human Rights Council, based in Geneva, in replacement of the Commission on Human Rights, as a subsidiary organ of the Assembly, and also decide that the Council would undertake a universal periodic review of the fulfilment by each State of its human rights obligations and commitments. The Council would, within one year after the holding of its first session, develop the modalities of that universal review and, where necessary, improve and rationalize all mandates, mechanisms, functions and responsibilities of the Commission. 3. The statement of the Secretary-General provides details on the impact of the requests contained in the draft resolution on the programme of work for 2006-2007 and the estimated additional requirements for the programme budget for 2006-2007. The Advisory Committee notes from paragraph 24 of the statement that the total additional requirements for the biennium 2006-2007 would amount to $4,503,700. 4. The Advisory Committee requested and received details of the conference servicing costing parameters, including the costs of additional meetings, summary and verbatim records and other documentation requirements. The Committee encourages the Secretariat to explore innovative ways and means, such as digital recording (which the Committee understands is in its experimental stage at the United Nations), to provide necessary services. The Committee was informed that, should the Economic and Social Council decide to reduce the number of its meetings devoted to human rights issues, meetings servicing requirements would be reduced by approximately $60,000 in addition to any savings that might result from reduced requirements for documentation. 5. The Secretary-General’s statement includes a proposal for the establishment of posts for two human rights officers (one P-4 and one P-3) in the Treaties and Commission Branch to support the Human Rights Council in developing the modalities of the universal review mechanism and other working procedures of the Council, in addition to the nine posts (five Professional and four General Service) provided for in the programme budget for 2006-2007 for servicing the Commission on Human Rights. The Advisory Committee has no objection to this proposal. 6. The Advisory Committee recommends that the Fifth Committee inform the General Assembly that, should it adopt draft resolution A/60/L.48, there would be the need for an additional appropriation of $4,328,700 (net), subject to the procedures governing the use and operation of the contingency fund. In this connection, the Advisory Committee takes note of paragraph 36 of the Secretary-General’s statement and recalls paragraph 2 of section B of the annex to Assembly resolution 42/211.   \* MERGEFORMAT 2 \* MERGEFORMAT 1 United Nations A/60/7/Add.34 General Assembly Distr.: General 3 March 2006 Original: English 06-25999 (E) 030306 *0625999* A/60/7/Add.34 A/60/7/Add.34