A/HRC/4/49 page 5 Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the one into northern Gaza and the assault on Beit Hanoun, as well as the situation of human rights in Darfur. My Office has actively supported the efforts to implement the resulting resolutions from these sessions, with all preparations for possible deployment. 11. Given the magnitude of its work, one of the challenges for the Council will be to ensure that it carries out substantive follow-up on the implementation of its own decisions and resolutions to assert its authority and reinstate the priority accorded to human rights in the Charter of the United Nations. Indeed, follow-up has been one of the preoccupations of the Council, and it now forms part of the programme of work for each session, a trend which I very much encourage. 12. In terms of logistical support to the Council, I would like to welcome one of the Council’s most recent decisions, making reference to the need to ensure adequate funding, to provide timely financing for unforeseen expenses such as fact-finding missions and special commissions as well as the necessary support from the Secretariat. The Council should have at its disposal financial means to implement its decisions, not only in relation to fact-finding missions and commissions of inquiry, but also in respect of other activities. My Office will of course continue to ensure that the Council receives all the support and assistance it requires. II. STRENGTHENED COUNTRY ENGAGEMENT 13. In line with the Secretary-General’s report to the General Assembly, “In larger freedom” (A/59/2005 and Add.1-3), my Office has endeavoured to strengthen its engagement and dialogue with countries as the primary means to promote the implementation of human rights. 14. Within Headquarters, the capacity of geographic desks is being strengthened through a significant increase in staffing levels to enable OHCHR to follow more closely human rights-related developments in the various regions with a view to a more efficient engagement and enhanced technical support. Thus, 11 positions (including 7 Desk Officer posts) were filled in the course of 2006. This expansion is also instrumental in reinforcing internal cooperation and coordination on country initiatives, also through international human rights mechanisms - treaty bodies, special procedures and the Human Rights Council. It will also enable closer monitoring of implementation of recommendations issued by human rights mechanisms. 15. In order to strengthen and coordinate OHCHR’s response to human rights crises, a Rapid Response Unit (“the Unit”) was established in 2006. The Unit assists geographic desks, field offices and other parts of OHCHR to conduct assessment, fact-finding and investigative work as well as start-up missions and operations. The Unit is developing strong partnerships with United Nations entities - mainly the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) - and other partners in order to secure adequate standby resources for emergency operations. 16. The Unit is instrumental in assisting OHCHR to fulfil the functions it has increasingly been called upon to carry out in the context of the establishment of commissions of inquiry and