A/HRC/16/66 from 22 February to 2 March 2010 and its thirty-third session took place from 4 to 10 October 2010. During its sessions, the Board examined various components of the United Nations human rights technical cooperation programme supported by the Voluntary Fund and received thematic and regional updates on the implementation of the OHCHR strategic management plan 2010-2011 in the context of the mid-year review, the strategic framework 2012-2013 and the performance monitoring system. 6. The Chairperson of the Board expressed appreciation on behalf of the Board for the opportunity to engage in interactive dialogue with the High Commissioner, having followed with interest the growth of the Office over the years. The High Commissioner noted her gratitude to the Board members for their guidance in the work of the Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation and her indebtedness to them for continuing to provide their expertise and maintaining an overview of the work of OHCHR in the field. She was pleased with the format of the Board of Trustees sessions including briefings and interactions with the different sections of the Office and Member States, encouraging the Board to continue to provide expert advice invaluable to the work of the Office in the field of technical cooperation. 7. The High Commissioner briefed the Board on the Strategic Management Plan and the Human Rights Council, in the context of strengthening dialogue, coordination and cooperation with OHCHR. The Board members thanked the High Commissioner for her update and noted the transformation in human rights over the years and the role of OHCHR, which has become more significant, and emphasized the integrated approach to human rights work in the field. III. Financial status of the Voluntary Fund 8. The Finance and Budget Section and the Donor and External Relations Section of OHCHR provided the Board of Trustees with an update on the Status of the Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation, which is in a good financial state. The Board was impressed to note that the Voluntary Fund was the second largest source of extra-budgetary funds to the Office. It was informed that, although the Fund had been weaker in the 20062007 biennium, it had since picked up and has steadily grown stronger over the years. The expenditure patterns are positive for 2010 and the rise in income is staying stable. The documents provided to the Board are contained as annexes to the present report. 9. The Board members noted that since the establishment of the Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation, the financial situation has greatly improved, drawing on the strategy of funding human rights advisers within United Nations country teams, human rights components of United Nations peace missions and country/stand-alone offices with technical cooperation components, successfully attracting donor contributions to the Fund. It acknowledged the importance of planning and results-based management, also welcomed by donors, enabling impact measurements for the benefit of long-term human-rights work. 10. The Board emphasized that the Voluntary Fund provided a very important source of financial support to the technical cooperation activities of the United Nations in the field of human rights. Despite the continued economic crisis, Member States and other contributors have generally maintained their levels of contribution. The Board expressed its gratitude and thanks to Member States and organizations for all donations to the Voluntary Fund, which manifests confidence in the work of the Board of Trustees. It reiterated the importance of receiving funds from a wide range of donors, including from those countries that benefit from the Fund, and encouraging even modest contributions as an important sign of support including those from developing nations supporting south-south cooperation. 4