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 decision S-4/101 adopted by the Human Rights Council at its fourth special session in 2006 Report of the Secretary-General Summary The present report details budgetary requirements resulting from Human Rights Council decision S-4/101 of 13 December 2006 adopted at its fourth special session. The report follows the earlier reports on the revised estimates resulting from the resolutions and decisions adopted by the Council at its first session, second and third sessions and its first through third special sessions, in 2006 (A/61/530 and Add.1). The expenditure requirements arising as a result of decision S-4/101 are estimated at $347,200. It is anticipated that that amount will be accommodated from within the existing resources under section 23, Human rights, of the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007. I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted to inform the General Assembly of the requirements resulting from Human Rights Council decision S-4/101, adopted on 13 December 2006, at its fourth special session. 2. The Council held its fourth special session at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 12 to 13 December 2006. During the session, in accordance with rule 153 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, the Council was presented with programme budget implications of three draft resolutions (A/HRC/S-4/L.1, A/HRC/S-4/L.2 and the amendment to draft resolution A/HRC/S-4/L.1 as contained in document A/HRC/S-4/L.3) on the situation of human rights in Darfur, all of which were subsequently withdrawn. 3. On 13 December 2006, at the 4th meeting of the special session, the President of the Council introduced a draft decision on the situation of human rights in Darfur, which was adopted at that meeting without a vote (decision S-4/101). Owing to insufficient time, a revised statement of programme budget implications could not be prepared and presented on the draft decision introduced by the President. The Council was, however, informed that the estimated resource requirements to implement the decision was expected to be accommodated from within resources approved under section 23, Human rights, of the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007. II. Additional requirements relating to Human Rights Council decision S-4/101 4. Under the terms of paragraphs 4, 5 and 6 of decision S-4/101, the Human Rights Council: (a) Decided to dispatch a High-Level Mission to assess the human rights situation in Darfur and the needs of the Sudan in this regard, comprising five highly qualified persons, to be appointed by the President of the Human Rights Council following consultation with the members of the Council; as well as the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Sudan; (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 High-Level Mission to fulfil its mandate promptly and efficiently, in coordination with the President of the Human Rights Council and also requested the latter to consult as appropriate with the concerned country; (c) Requested the High-Level Mission to report to the Council at its fourth session. 5. Adoption of the decision by the Human Rights Council gives rise to estimated requirements for the biennium 2006-2007, in the amount of $347,200 to implement the following activities: (a) Travel requirements ($216,300): (i) Travel of five highly qualified persons from a country of origin to Geneva for two weeks and from Geneva to the Sudan for six days; (ii) Travel of the Special Rapporteur from Geneva to the Sudan for 6 days and to Geneva for 2 round trips of 7 days each and 3 days to present the report to the Human Rights Council; (iii) Travel of 5 staff members of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, travel of 3 interpreters, and travel of 12 close-protection security officers for 1 round-trip travel from Geneva to the Sudan and 1 staff for 21 days for pre-mission preparations, to accompany the mission and post-mission preparation of the report for 1 round trip from New York to Geneva; (b) General temporary assistance ($56,000) for 2 General Service (Other level) staff for 1 month, 3 interpreters for 12 days, 12 close protection officers for 12 days, and 20 soldiers escorts for 10 working days; (c) Security and other equipment ($22,000); (d) General operating expenses ($52,900) for hiring of helicopters and special flights for movement within the Sudan, contractual and miscellaneous services and hazard pay. III. Conclusion 6. The estimate of $347,200 required to implement the activities under Human Rights Council decision S-4/101 is a midrange of the estimates presented to the Human Rights Council at its fourth special session on the programme budget implications of draft resolutions A/HRC/S-4/L.1, A/HRC/S-4/L.2 and the amendment to draft resolution A/HRC/S-4/L.1 as contained in document A/HRC/ S-4/L.3, on the situation of human rights in Darfur. 7. There was insufficient time to prepare and submit revised programme budget implications prior to the introduction and adoption of the draft decision presented by the President of the Council. Consequently, at the meeting, the Council was informed that the General Assembly would be informed of the estimated resources required to implement the decision (see paragraph 12 of its report A/HRC/S-4/5). 8. No provisions have been included under the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 for the activities called for in the decision on the situation of human rights in Darfur. However, it is envisaged that the estimated expenditures will be accommodated from within existing resources under section 23, Human rights, of the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007. 9. The General Assembly may wish to take note of the present report.   sss1 \* MERGEFORMAT A/61/530/Add.2 sss1 \* MERGEFORMAT A/61/530/Add.2 FooterJN \* MERGEFORMAT 07-23403 \* MERGEFORMAT 2 \* MERGEFORMAT 3 FooterJN \* MERGEFORMAT 07-23403 United Nations A/61/530/Add.2 General Assembly Distr.: General 9 February 2007 Original: English jobn \* MERGEFORMAT 07-23403 (E) 160207 Barcode \* MERGEFORMAT *0723403*