A/HRC/9/18
page 12
in December 2007 for the 2008-2009 biennium (see A/62/125 and A/62/563/Add.1). At the
same time, resources for contractual translation were doubled - offset by a cut in
temporary assistance for meetings - and five senior reviser posts were authorized to
provide quality control for outsourced translations. However no similar provisions were
approved by the General Assembly to address the concomitant increase in requirements
for referencing, editing, translating and typing of over 10,000 additional pages5 of related
reports mentioned in annex I, in addition to estimated 3,079 standard pages by which the
universal periodic review mechanism in 2008 is expected to exceed the estimates prepared
for its sessions. Similarly, no provision has been made for additional drafting and in-house
translation of summary records.
39. Experience has shown that current Division of Conference Management
document-processing capacity cannot meet the documentation requirements of the
Human Rights Council and its subsidiary machinery. The lack of sufficient permanent
conference capacity does not allow for the required flexibility and timeliness in
accommodating urgent and unforeseen requests for meetings and processing of
documentation. Additional staff resources, provisionally estimated at approximately
US$ 7,500,000 per year, are accordingly urgently required to enable the Division to ensure
the appropriate level of support required by the Human Rights Council.
40. At the same time, there are inadequate resources for the necessary editing of
documents prior to submission, which is a critical element of the timely documentation
chain. The establishment of editor posts in OHCHR is accordingly required to address this
aspect of the process.
41. The Human Rights Council also requires significantly more media services than its
predecessor body. To increase public awareness and understanding of its work, the
provision of an adequate level of resources for information work is indispensable.
Webcasting has been identified by the Council as a vital component in communication
about its role and functioning. Effective and continuous delivery of webcasting and all
media services require stable, permanent personnel and facilities. In order to provide these
services, the Department of Public Information will require additional infrastructure of
approximately US$ 2,500,000, supplemented by related staff and other recurring costs of
approximately US$ 1,700,000.
42. A report detailing these resource requirements will be prepared for submission to the
General Assembly during its sixty-third session.
5
These figures include also 2,146 pages forecast for the Durban Review process.
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