A/HRC/19/24 III. Results of efforts made to achieve equitable geographical representation 12. Although the General Assembly stated in its resolution 63/250 that the system of geographical ranges for staff representation is designed to apply to countries rather than to regions or groups, the Commission on Human Rights, the Human Rights Council and the Joint Inspection Unit have focused on regional groups when assessing the geographical diversity of the staff of OHCHR, further including reference to extrabudgetary staff whose posts are not subject to the system of desirable ranges.7 This difference in approach, terminology and methodology from the report of the Secretary-General on the composition of the Secretariat (A/66/347) has made comparison of data problematic. While being bound by the Assembly resolution on this matter, the High Commissioner has, in order to facilitate a consistent and coherent discussion in the present report, continued to make reference to regional groups in the analysis of the geographical diversity of OHCHR. 13. Improving the geographical diversity of OHCHR staff remains one of the High Commissioner’s priorities. In line with that objective, OHCHR has continued to vigorously implement the High Commissioner’s procedures and framework for improving geographical diversity, in full compliance with Secretariat human resources policies, which were explained in detail to the Commission on Human Rights in February 2006.8 14. The impact of the implementation of the above-mentioned procedures can be seen clearly in the overall geographical diversity of OHCHR. An analysis of the data contained in the table below, using the methodology employed by the Joint Inspection Unit, shows a steady, continuous and significant increase in the percentage of OHCHR staff from regions identified as requiring better representation within OHCHR over the past five years. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights by region Region Africa Asia Latin America and Caribbean Eastern Europe Western Europe and other Total 31 December 2006 31 December 2007 31 December 2008 31 December 2009 31 December 2010 31 December 2011 Percentage Percentage Percentage Percentage Percentage Percentage 11.1 11.9 13.1 12.6 13.9 13.3 13.8 13.6 14.5 15.8 16.0 16.7 9.6 3.3 11.9 4.8 11.5 5.0 13.2 5.7 13.7 6.9 12.5 7.5 64.1 57.5 56.3 53.7 49.1 47.3 100 100 100 100 100 100 15. OHCHR remains committed to implementing the High Commissioner’s procedures and framework for improving geographical diversity,9 which has proven effective to date. Current measures have included expanding the pool of qualified candidates from the widest possible range of countries and backgrounds, and developing recruitment outreach activities with United Nations country teams, OHCHR field offices, permanent missions in Geneva, 7 8 9 4 A/59/65-E/2004/48, A/59/65/Add.1-E/2004/48/Add.1, A/61/115, A/61/115/Add.1, A/62/845, A/62/845/Add.1, A/64/94, A/64/94/Add.1. See E/CN.4/2006/103. See note 8. GE.12-10251