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