EU Presidency Statement - Administration and Management of the Office of the UNHCHR

Mr. Chairman,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The acceding countries - Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia - as well as the associated countries Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey - and EFTA countries belonging to the European Economic Area - Iceland, and Liechtenstein- have aligned themselves with this statement.

Mr. Chairman,

Let me first of all thank Mr. Warren Sach and the Chairman of the ACABQ, Ambassador Conrad Mselle for the introduction the reports A/58/569 and A/58/7/Add.12 on Administration and Management of the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights. In this respect, however, we must once again express our deep disappointment for the late issuance of these reports, almost on the eve of the general debate in this Committee. Such a delay hinders a thorough and transparent examination of all related financial issues.

Mr. Chairman,

Human Rights are a high priority of the European Union. We have recalled in many instances that further developments in Human Rights, as well as in other interrelated areas such as, among others, Humanitarian Affairs, Treaty Bodies, Gender Policy, and Economic and Social Development Cooperation, are to be considered as a main goal for the Organization, and should therefore receive adequate and consistent financing by us, the Member States. At the same time, we wish also to emphasize that the UN management of support activities in these crucial sectors must also comply with general efficiency criteria, in order not to waste resources.

Looking closely at the above-mentioned reports, we note that the ACABQ had initially deferred its recommendations on posts policies for the OHCHR (A/58/7, para. VI.1), until the issuance of the S.G.'s report A/58/ 569, containing the requested analysis of the administrative and resource requirements of OHCHR. In its new report A/58/7/Add.12, ACABQ has made some recommendations concerning the creation of new posts and redeployment of staff.

These recommendations will receive the most careful attention by the E.U. during this session in order to achieve results that match the necessary strengthening of the management of OHCHR with efficiency in resource allocation.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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