A/HRC/19/2
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,
Taking note also of the report of the High Commissioner on the composition of the
staff of the Office of the High Commissioner,1
Recalling the reports of the Joint Inspection Unit on the follow-up to the
management review of the Office of the High Commissioner2 and on the funding and
staffing of the Office,3
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,
Reiterating its concern that, despite the repeated requests to correct the unbalanced
geographical distribution of the staff, the situation remains that one region accounts for
almost half of the posts of the Office of the High Commissioner,
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,
including in the senior management positions,
Underlining that the paramount consideration for employing staff at every level is
the need for the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, and taking into
account Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, expressing its
conviction that this objective is compatible with the principle of equitable geographical
distribution,
Reaffirming that the Fifth Committee is the appropriate Main Committee of the
General Assembly entrusted with responsibilities for administrative and budgetary matters,
1.
Expresses its serious concern at the fact that, despite the measures taken by
the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the imbalance in
the geographical representation of its composition continues to be prominent, and that a
single region occupies almost half of the posts of the Office of the High Commissioner;
2.
Welcomes the statement made by the High Commissioner in her report that
achieving geographical balance in the staff of her Office will remain one of her priorities,
and requests the High Commissioner to continue to take all measures needed to redress the
current imbalance in geographical distribution of the staff of the Office;
3.
Notes the increase in the past four years in the percentage of staff from
regions identified as requiring better representation and the various measures proposed and
already taken to address the imbalance in geographical distribution of the staff, while
noting with concern the small increase in 2011 and no change in the status of the prominent
region, and stresses the need to implement additional measures to redress the prominent
imbalance in a more expeditious way;
1
2
3
10
A/HRC/19/24.
A/59/65-E/2004/48 and Add.1.
JIU/REP/2007/8.
GE.13-14768
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