A/HRC/RES/31/1 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 13 April 2016 Original: English Human Rights Council Thirty-first session Agenda item 2 Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 23 March 2016 31/1. Composition of staff of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights The Human Rights Council, Recalling paragraph 5 (g) of General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006, in which the Assembly decided that the Human Rights Council should assume the role and responsibilities of the Commission on Human Rights relating to the work of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, as decided by the Assembly in its resolution 48/141 of 20 December 1993, Taking note of all relevant resolutions on this issue adopted by the General Assembly, the Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Council, Bearing in mind that an imbalance in the composition of the staff could diminish the effectiveness of the work of the Office of the High Commissioner if it is perceived to be culturally biased and unrepresentative of the United Nations as a whole, Reaffirming the importance of continuing ongoing efforts to address the imbalance regarding the regional representation of the staff of the Office of the High Commissioner, most notably in senior management positions, Noting with concern that the dependence of the Office of the High Commissioner on extrabudgetary resources is at the heart of the imbalance in the composition of its staff, Underlining that the paramount consideration for employing staff at every level is the need for the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, taking into account Article 101, paragraph 3 of the Charter of the United Nations, and expressing its conviction that this objective is compatible with the principle of equitable geographical distribution, Recognizing that the Fifth Committee is the appropriate Main Committee of the General Assembly entrusted with responsibilities for administrative and budgetary matters, 1. Expresses serious concern at the fact that the imbalance in the geographical representation in the composition of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights continues to be prominent, particularly at the senior management level; GE.16-06042(E) *1606042*