A/HRC/38/26 I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 16/22 and decision 17/119, in which the Council requested the secretariat to provide an annual written update on the operations of the Voluntary Trust Fund for Participation in the Universal Periodic Review and on the resources available to it. As indicated in the previous update report (A/HRC/35/17), in an effort to consolidate information related to the universal periodic review, and on the basis of Council decision 17/119, the secretariat aligned the timing of submission of the reports on the activities supported through the two universal periodic review trust funds, namely, the Voluntary Trust Fund for Participation in the Universal Periodic Review and the Voluntary Fund for Financial and Technical Assistance in the Implementation of the Universal Periodic Review. Consequently, as from 2015, both annual reports are submitted to the Council at its June session. The present report provides an overview of contributions and expenditures, together with a description of activities funded since the previous report until 31 December 2017. 2. Participation of Member States in the review process has been universal ever since the launch of the mechanism, demonstrating strong commitment to and acceptance of the mechanism as a critical tool of the Human Rights Council and States Members of the United Nations. This was highlighted during the annual high-level panel discussion on human rights mainstreaming, held on 26 February 2018 during the thirty-seventh session of the Council, pursuant to its resolution 16/21, which had as its theme “The promotion and protection of human rights in the light of the universal periodic review mechanism: challenges and opportunities”. 3. The support provided through the Voluntary Trust Fund for Participation in the Universal Periodic Review remains instrumental, allowing delegations to be present and to contribute to an interactive dialogue that is universal, independent, impartial and nonpoliticized, with recommendations that are constructive, specific, action-oriented and implementable, taking into account national capacities. Trust Fund-supported participation also contributes to raising delegations’ awareness of the need for close coordination of implementation efforts at the national level, through national mechanisms for reporting and follow-up. This need primarily stems from the fact that substantive issues raised in the universal periodic reviews often mirror the recommendations of other human rights mechanisms and complement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as also highlighted during the annual high-level panel discussion. II. Financial situation of the Fund 4. Table 1 shows the detailed financial situation of the Fund as at 31 December 2017 (statement of income and expenditure). Table 1 Statement of income and expenditure for the period 1 January–31 December 2017 (United States dollars) Income Voluntary contributions received in 2017 Gain/loss on exchange Interest and miscellaneous income Total income 58 441.41 1 596.67 10 551.00 70 589.08 Expenditure Staff costs – Other personnel costs (consultants’ fees and travel) – Staff travel Travel of representatives/participants to meetings and seminars 2 – 55 912.27