EXPANDING HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVITIES DESERVE HIGHER PRIORITY IN UNITED NATIONS BUDGET, FIFTH COMMITTEE IS TOLD

3 November 1995

Press Release
GA/AB/3035

EXPANDING HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVITIES DESERVE HIGHER PRIORITY IN UNITED NATIONS BUDGET, FIFTH COMMITTEE IS TOLD

19951103 Allocated Proportion Inadequate for Current Needs: Others Argue Development Efforts Should Not Suffer As Consequence

The overall proportion of financial resources devoted to human rights in the proposed United Nations budget for 1996-1997 was inadequate and did not reflect the priority it deserved, the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) was told this afternoon as it continued its first reading of the budget.

The representative of Spain, speaking for the European Union, said the resources were only 1.8 per cent of the budget. Increases would be justified because of the rise in the work needed to implement the Declaration and the Programme of Action of the 1993 Vienna Conference, and General Assembly mandates on human rights.

The meeting concluded its review of section 21 on human rights. The amount proposed for it, after adjusting for factors such as inflation and exchange rate fluctuations, is $49.7 million. The final budget would be cast in such adjusted dollar terms.

Noting that some delegations had supported the proposals for the human rights section, Uganda said that they had cast aspersions on sections that were important to developing countries. Its representative expressed hope that the same spirit of support would ensue when other budget sections were revisited.

Expressing surprise that the section's resources were rising while those of others were falling, China said the United Nations should not dwell on human rights at the expense of other functions. As with human rights, conferences had been held in the social and economic fields, with the need for follow-up. However, resources for activities there had not risen accordingly.

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A special subprogramme for the right to development was lacking in the budget, although it had been frequently requested by developing countries, said Iran, adding that there should be a better balance in the budget.

Statements on the budget were also made by Sudan, Cuba, Canada, (also for Australia and New Zealand), United States, India, Norway, Brazil, Indonesia and United Republic of Tanzania.

Earlier, Algeria, Japan and Kenya spoke on the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund's administrative expenses.

On the budget, the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), C.S.M Mselle, presented his Committee's views on the budget. The United Nations Controller Yukio Takasu and Director of Programme Planning and Budget Division, Jean-Pierre Halbwachs, responded to delegates' statements.

Under-Secretary-General for Administration and Management, Joseph E. Connor, spoke on the Pension Fund.

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m., Monday, 6 November, to take up financial reports and audited financial statements from such sources as the Board of Auditors, and review sections 22 to 28 of the proposed budget.

Committee Work Programme

The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) met this afternoon to consider the administrative expenses of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund and continue its first reading of the proposed budget for 1996 and 1997, involving its section-by-section review.

The report of the Standing Committee of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board on the Fund's administrative expenses (document A/50/312) relates to both the 1994-1995 and the 1996-1997 budgets. The Fund, set up in 1949 by the General Assembly, is run by a 33-member Board that reports to the Assembly. When not in session, the Board names a 15-member Steering Committee to act on its behalf.

According to the report, the proposed $40.5 million revised estimates for the 1994-1995 biennium consists of $13.3 million for administrative costs and $27.2 million for investment costs, with a total increase of $835,500.

For the 1996-1997 biennium, the report estimates a total of $40.6 million: $13.7 million for administrative costs and $26.9 million for investments costs. The administrative costs show a growth of $1.5 million relating partly to requests for three more established posts, taking the Fund secretariat's total staff needs to 106.

The investment costs of about $26.7 million involve a net resource growth of $283,800. The increases of $1.2 million relate, among others to the establishment of six new posts and the reclassification of two in the Investment Management Service ($870,200) and the investment operation's share in the cost of the new internal audit function ($200,000). The extra resources are partly offset by cuts of $875,900 mainly in the cost of investment consultants and advisory and custodial fees ($672,700), travel for the Investments Committee and staff ($108,400); and data-processing costs ($56,400). The Standing Committee could not decide on the staffing of the Investment Management Service, especially on upgrading the post of its Chief to the Director level (D-2).

In its report on administrative expenses of the Fund (document A/50/7/Add.1), the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) does not oppose the addition of three posts to the Fund's secretariat. However, it recommends that staffing proposals for the Investment Management Service should be addressed at the Pension Board's next regular session in 1996.

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First Reading of Proposed 1996-1997 Budget

The budget's first reading is meant to help the Committee identify difficult points that would eventually be resolved in informal consultations. At the end of the first reading and first round of informal consultations, the Committee would put together amounts approved for each section of the budget and those approved in respect of revised estimates and programme budget implications. During the second reading, each section's total appropriation would be approved. The entire exercise is expected to produce a package, which would form the programme budget for 1996-1997.

For its first reading of the proposed budget, the Committee had before it the Secretary-General's proposals (document A/50/6/Rev.1 Vols. I and II) and the views of the ACABQ (document A/50/7) and the Committee for Programme and Coordination (CPC) (document A/50/16). The Secretary-General proposes a budget of $2.51 billion (in 1994-1995 dollars), before adjustments for inflation and exchange rate fluctuations. The ACABQ's recommendations are largely in 1996-1997 figures, adjusted for those factors. (For background on the proposed budget, see Press Release GA/AB/3017 of 4 October.)

The sections to be reviewed today fall under Part VI of the budget, on human rights and humanitarian affairs. They are sections 21, human rights; 22, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); and 23, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Section 21. Human rights: The Secretary-General proposes $46.7 million at 1994-1995 rates for the United Nations human rights programme after an increase of $3 million. Much of that increase would come from the full biennial provision of new posts established and partially funded in 1994-1995 and new posts for 1996-1997. He also proposes a staffing table of 160 regular budget established posts (101 Professional and 59 General Service posts) for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and for the Centre for Human Rights for 1996-1997.

The ACABQ states that it had noted that the Secretary-General's proposals also include the establishment of a new Professional post at the Senior Officer level (P-5) to strengthen the administrative function of the Centre for Human Rights; the establishment of a new Second Officer post (P-3) to assist the High Commissioner; the conversion of 21 temporary regular budget posts approved for 1994-1995 into established regular budget posts, including the post of the High Commissioner, four Professional posts and four General Service posts for the Office of the High Commissioner; and the redeployment and downgrading of a D-2 post from the High Commissioner's Office to the Centre to head the International Instruments Branch at the Principal Officer level (D-1).

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The ACABQ states that, with the exception of the USG post of the High Commissioner, one P-5 and two General Service posts in the Office of the High Commissioner, the decision to convert the remaining 17 temporary posts, approved in 1994-1995, into established posts in 1996-1997 should be deferred until the results of the restructuring of the programme of work and identification of priorities are completed. As for the proposal for two new established posts in 1996-1997, it does not agree with the creation of the new P-3 post, but recommends that of the new P-5 post to discharge all the functions of an administrative executive officer. It recommends an adjusted $49.6 million budget, down from the Secretary-General's adjusted estimates of $49.7 million. The CPC recommends that the Assembly review the section's programme narrative.

The programme of work is derived from programme 35 of the medium-term plan for 1992-1997, on promoting and protecting human rights. With the adoption by the World Conference on Human Rights of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action and the establishment of the post of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, new demands are being addressed to the United Nations to find efficient ways to prevent violations of human rights and to integrate human rights concerns into economic and social development.

Section 22. UNHCR: The Secretary-General proposes a pre-adjusted budget of $48.6 million, for the administrative costs of the Office of the High Commissioner. The proposals reflect the continuation of the current arrangements in which the regular budget funds 244 posts (89 Professional posts and 155 General Service posts). Other spending related to the UNHCR are paid for from voluntary contributions of which $2.42 billion is expected for 1996-1997 in the form of extrabudgetary resources.

The ACABQ does not propose changes to the Secretary-General's estimates and the CPC approves the narrative.

Section 23. UNRWA: The Secretary-General proposes $21.4 million, before adjustment, for UNRWA to keep 82 Professional and above posts and 10 General Service posts funded from the regular budget. The Agency's current mandate extends until June 1996. It is anticipated that the programme will be continued in 1996-1997.

According to the ACABQ, the Agency's overall strategy for 1996-1997 will focus on preparing for the eventual hand-over of its installations, services and programmes to the Palestinian authorities, in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, while maintaining services to Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Extrabudgetary resources for its operational projects are estimated at some $895 million for 1996-1997. The ACABQ does not change the Secretary-General's proposals and the CPC recommends that the narrative be approved.

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Statements on Administrative Expenses

C.S.M. MSELLE, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), introduced his Committee's report on the question, also reviewing some of its highlights. Among other things, it stated that the internal audit for the Fund should be formalized either by using the Office of Internal Oversight Services or other arrangements. The Fund's Board should present the financial implications of all audit options. The long-term arrangement of the auditing of the Fund was not yet settled. The option of using the services of the internal oversight office could be seen as an evolutionary first step. Funds should be allowed to cover such costs as those for internal audit. The Board could consider the proposed conversion of four temporary posts to established basis, one P-4 and three General Service; reclassification and other measures.

JOSEPH E. CONNOR, Under-Secretary-General for Administration and Management, introduced the report of the Steering Committee of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board. The Fund's market value was $14.7 billion on 30 September, compared with $13.5 billion on 31 March 1995, an increase of $1.2 billion. The investment return was an annualized 18.4 per cent. The Fund was doing well. The staff of the Investment Management Service must be strengthened as their numbers were severely inadequate, considering the growth of the portfolio and extensive diversification. Four temporary posts had been created last year and paid for from $3 million in savings generated by new custodial arrangements. The Service was currently staffed by 24 persons, nine at Professional and 15 at General Service levels. Of the nine Professionals, only four were full-time portfolio managers. That was a fund that invested in 46 countries and 30 currencies, and had 1,300 securities in 650 sectors.

The human resources sought in the budget were very modest, he continued. It had been recommended that the level of some posts be upgraded, and that additional posts be created. Six posts were requested in the budget -- four temporary posts approved in 1995 and two new ones. The resources sought for the 1996-1997 budget were less than those in the revised 1994-1995 budget. The Fund's investment costs were 0.09 per cent of the Fund's market value as at 30 September. Those were considerably less than those of the World Bank, and global mutual funds charged about 15 times the costs of the management of the Pension Fund.

While the ACABQ had stated that the staffing requirement could be addressed by the Pension Board at its meeting next year, the resources were needed now, not next year. Also, it was not realistic to expect good investment managers to come to the Investment Management Service with no assurance of established posts, even if temporary assistance funds were available in the budget. The Service should not be denied the resources it needed to handle its responsibilities.

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LARBI DJACTA (Algeria) said the Fund's management needed permanent staff, and expressed support for the request of the Secretariat.

HIDEKI GODA (Japan) said he supported the recommendations in the ACABQ report.

PHILIP R.O.OWADE (Kenya) said he appreciated the good work of the investment management. The requests presented by the Under-Secretary-General were modest and they should be supported.

Proposed Programme Budget for 1996-1997 Biennium

Mr. MSELLE, Chairman of the ACABQ, spoke on all the sections before the Committee. He said the section on human rights had given rise to extensive debate in the past and was expected to do so this year. The ACABQ had been concerned about the personnel management in the Centre for Human Rights. The Centre's restructuring was expected to be completed in October 1995. More information was requested from the Secretariat on the role of the High Commissioner and the Head of the Centre. There was also some concern about the Centre's advisory and technical services. The Centre's publications should be reviewed to ensure that they were produced in a cost-effective manner. Regarding the conversion of posts, he said the Committee had recommended a deferral of the conversion of 17 posts but supported the establishment of five posts in the High Commissioner's office and for the administrative function.

Turning to Section 22, the UNHCR, he said the regular budget currently funded 244 posts of that Office. The Office had 5,022 posts funded from extrabudgetary resources. A review of the Office structure and staffing would take place in 1996 and the results would be communicated to the Committee. Regarding Section 23, on UNWRA, he said it was funded from extrabudgetary resources. Ninety-two international staff were funded from the regular budget. In a recent report, the ACABQ had requested a full explanation of how the terminal indemnities of 82 international staff in posts created by the Commissioner would be financed by UNWRA. The issue was pertinent since UNWRA had just started to set aside termination indemnities, in case its mandate were terminated. Termination indemnities for the staff on the regular budget was catered for. The ACABQ had stressed the need to ensure that the lack of resources would not seriously affect the transfer of the operations of UNRWA to Gaza.

Statements on Human Rights Section

Speaking on Section 21 on human rights, RAPHAEL MUNOZ (Spain), for the European Union, said the Union welcomed the Secretary-General's proposals for increased resources for human rights. Those increases were justified because of the increase in work required to efficiently implement the Declaration and

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the Programme of Action of the 1993 Vienna Conference and other Assembly mandates on human rights. The resources were only 1.8 per cent of the Organization's total budget. The European Union's position, however, was that "the overall proportion of the Programme Budget devoted to Human Rights remains inadequate and does not reflect the priority which should be attached to this area".

The increase of resources by $3 million represented a nominal increase of 6.9 per cent based on the revised estimates for the 1994-1995 biennium, he said. The major part of that nominal increase was due to the delayed effects of the creation of a determined number of posts in the 1994-1995 biennium. The proposals for 1996-1997 would therefore reflect a decrease compared to the 1994-1995 biennium. The full implementation of the human rights mandates was likely to require a greater proportion of regular budget resources than envisaged in the current proposal. It was also important to take account of the preventive impact of the promotion of human rights. It contributed to limiting costs for humanitarian catastrophes and peace-keeping.

He referred to the ACABQ's concerns about personnel management and the need to finalize the Centre's restructuring process before the adoption of a decision on the conversion of temporary posts to permanent posts. The European Union believed it was difficult to demand a high level of efficiency from the Centre when significant mandates had been assigned to it without the commensurate human and financial resources being provided. The conversion of the temporary posts, while not increasing the Centre's human resources, could have a very important positive effect on the staff's morale. The European Union therefore supported the Secretary-General's proposal on staffing. He hoped the Secretariat would provide new data regarding restructuring of the Centre which would enable Committee members to remove doubts raised by the ACABQ.

HAMID ELTINAY (Sudan) said that the section dealt with important matters. The resources available were in keeping with the ACABQ's proposal and recommendations. Those included strengthening control and improving coordination. Efforts to avoid duplication should be considered. The right to development could be regarded as an integral part of human rights for all people. The human rights organs should be committed to implementing the right to development for the least developed countries.

Economic and social rights should be given more importance, and the principles of objectivity, neutrality and non-selectivity adhered to in the spirit of the text of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. There should be respect for historical and cultural specificities of countries, and respect for the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of others.

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He said that despite the ACABQ's call for better financial control at the Centre, the budget proposals included 160 regular budget-established posts for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and for the Centre for Human Rights for 1996-1997. Among those, conversion of 21 temporary regular budget posts approved for 1994-1995 to the category of established regular budget posts had been proposed. He asked whether the conversion was ideal, bearing in mind the need to improve the Centre's efficiency. Those who reported on the situation of human rights in some countries should be qualified, truthful and deserving of the pay they received from the United Nations. It was sad that some of those rapporteurs had sometimes gone beyond their mandates and submitted reports that showed clear biases, or had been negative to the beliefs and traditions of some countries they had reported on.

NORMA GOICHOCHEA (Cuba) said there were controversial elements regarding the programme and resource aspects of the section of the budget. Cuba felt the budget had maintained a reinterpretation of the Vienna Declaration, and that was troubling. The level of resources requested could be regarded as modest, if only those in the current section were considered. The Secretariat should present a conference paper showing the growth for each budget section from the 1988-1989 programme budget onwards. That would give a clearer idea of how budget proposals had been growing. While there was a need to streamline the work programme and procedures of the Centre, that had not happened. Information should be provided on how, up to October 1995, recommendations on streamlining had been handled.

The representative said there was an imbalance in the distribution of resources between the subprogrammes of the section, and Cuba had problems regarding that. What were the objectives of the fund for operational activities in the section, and how was it set up? she asked. There should be an explanation on how those resources were being managed and show how the Centre would try to handle criticisms by the oversight services section of the management of the Centre.

The proposals for the conversion of posts to permanent ones should be considered in the light of the section's report, and of the work volume. The bases for calculations leading to the requests for some resources, and how activities were coordinated between the Centre and relevant departments of the Secretariat, should be explained. Why was there no clear identification of specific provisions for the right to development? Those activities had been specified by the General Assembly and the Vienna Declaration. The Secretariat should explain how recruitments were made at the Centre.

SAM HANSON (Canada), speaking also for New Zealand and Australia, said the expansion of United Nations human rights programme during the past biennium, and its expected increase in the workload in this area in the next biennium, required increased resources. The fulfilment of mandates of the Vienna Conference and of the General Assembly needed adequate resources. He

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welcomed the restructuring of the Centre for Human Rights in response to the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services. The proposed resources for 1996-1997 were a nominal increase of resources for this section. He supported the conversion of the posts as proposed. Those resources would enable the Centre to respond to additional recommendations of the external consultancy study that the Centre had commissioned. He was convinced that the information required by the Committee and the ACABQ would be provided. He agreed with the need for review of the Centre's policy on publications.

VLADIMIR KOUZNETSOV (Russian Federation) said the priority of the Centre and the Office of the High Commissioner should be taken into account in the proposed budget. He was disappointed with the reports on the Centre. The increase in resources provided to the Centre was not reflected in its work programme. He recommended the implementation of the ACABQ's proposals on the Centre. He agreed with the recommendations on the restructuring of the Centre; there were serious drawbacks regarding its management and its publications policies.

Mr. GODA (Japan) said the strengthening of the Centre was of great importance, but it should be carried out in a cost-effective manner as pointed out by the ACABQ. Some of the Centre's work had not been mandated.

NESTER ODAGA-JALOMAYO (Uganda) noted that a number of delegations had supported the proposals for this section. Some had cast aspersions on the budget sections of importance to developing countries. He hoped that the same spirit of support would be reflected when the Committee revisited those sections. Uganda supported the Organization's approach to human rights, which remained a cornerstone of Uganda's foreign policy. The result of the Centre's restructuring process should help the Assembly decide on the nature and scope of the Centre's programme requirements.

He requested information on the status of that restructuring process. If it was completed, the Committee needed to know the present resource requirements. If it was not, the Committee would agree with the ACABQ that the Committee should await the completion of that restructuring. The conversion of posts should be deferred pending the completion of the restructuring exercise. Restructuring should lead to a clear delineation of the posts of the High Commissioner and that of the Under-Secretary-General for Human Rights. Administrative shortcomings must be also be addressed. Noting that his country had benefited from the Centre's advisory services, he said he wanted that area strengthened as well as other areas which were of importance to many developing countries.

SUSAN SHEAROUSE (United States) said her delegation was fully committed to and strongly supported the United Nations human rights programme since it was a priority activity for the Organization. Increased resources to such priority areas as human rights should be given added resources through

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redeployment. She envisaged a steady growth in United Nations resources for the Centre for Human Rights and its activities.

She said she concurred with the recommendations of the ACABQ on the conversion of 21 temporary regular budget posts to established ones and on two new posts. Efforts should be made to accommodate a P-5 post through redeployment.

MORTEZA MIRMOHAMMED (Iran) said the programme of work of the section had been derived from Programme 35 of the medium-term plan, as revised. The revisions to the plan had not been approved in the CPC because existing mandates had not been respected in drafting the revision. In the forty-ninth session of the General Assembly, neither the Non-Aligned Movement or the Assembly had accepted them either. The mandate for the monitoring of human rights had not been submitted, and even the High Commissioner had not been mandated to engage in that activity.

He said he could not accept the integration of human rights concerns into economic and social development activities. Some of the resources proposed for policy-making organs in human rights were not acceptable either. A special subprogramme for the right to development was lacking, even though it had ben requested frequently by the developing countries. The level of resources in the section was large compared to that of other sections. All sections of the budget should be treated in a balanced manner. The section in its current form was biased and Iran would not support it.

VIJAY GOKHALE (India) said one of the activities under the section should be the provision of advisory services and technical cooperation. The allocation of resources to that subprogramme was inadequate and he wanted to be assured that that would be addressed. The right to development had not received the adequate resources required, and a separate subprogramme for it should be included in the budget. He sought information on what would be allocated to that area and on whether the Centre planned to develop a programme devoted to the right to development.

DAG BRISEID (Norway) associated himself with the views of the European Union and Canada. Further increases for the section could be considered. It was important to approve the section of the budget. The promotion of human rights should enjoy the support of all States as it was cost-effective. It would save funds in the long-run, for example, by reducing the need for peace- keeping operations. The proposals to convert 21 posts would enable qualified candidates to be attracted. New posts should also be created, if necessary.

MARCIO FAGUNDES (Brazil) said Brazil attached great importance to the field of human rights, especially to the Centre for Human Rights. It also attached importance to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. The activities of the Centre should be strengthened. Similarly, the strengthening

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of the rule of law was very important. He agreed with Cuba and India that little emphasis had been placed on the right to development. Since that issue deserved better treatment, it should not be included with others without a clear enunciation of the objectives and resources meant for it.

JU KUILIN (China) expressed surprise that the section's resources were rising while those for others were declining. As with human rights, many conferences had been held in the economic field, with the need for follow-ups to be pursued. However, resources for economic and social activities had not been increased accordingly, but had declined sharply. The Secretariat had cited modernization as one of the reasons for the cuts proposed in the budget for other sections. Since modernization applied to the human rights section also, he asked why its resources had not been similarly affected. The United Nations should not pay attention to human rights to the detriment of other matters. Some delegations had stressed redundancies and repetitions in other fields; there was also repetition and waste in the section for human rights as the Board of Auditors and the Internal Oversight Office had pointed out. The Centre had not shown any improvement in management or explained the lack of it to the Assembly. Moreover, as Iran had pointed out, Programme 35 of the revised medium-term plan had not been approved by the Assembly. China could not support the allocation of resources if several questions on that were not resolved.

Ms. GOICOCHEA ESTENOZ (Cuba) asked for a detailed explanation of the reasons for increased resources for contractual services, and of the differentiation of the functions of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Under-Secretary-General for Human Rights. She also requested information on the total volume of resources that appeared in the entire budget for human rights activities, since there were other budget sections which covered human rights. She asked for a conference paper on up-to-date information on the proposals of the Internal Oversight Office for restructuring the Centre and detailed information on the Centre's staff, this to include its hiring methods and geographic representation, as well as the Centre's total level of staff resources and the situation of temporary staff. She also asked for information on the Centre's consultations with regional organizations, such as the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the Organization of American States (OAS), and the Centre's analyses of such consultations.

PRAYONO ATIYANTO (Indonesia) said the CPC had not agreed on the programme narrative on human rights. He therefore wanted more information from the Secretariat on the observations made by that body on the section.

STANISLAUS MONGELLA (United Republic of Tanzania) expressed concern at the lack of clarity and lack of emphasis in the budget on the question of the right to development. He waited to see how that issue would be addressed in the Committee's informal consultations. He also awaited information on the status of the Centre's ongoing restructuring exercise in order to determine

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the appropriateness of its requests. He supported the ACABQ's recommendations.

YUKIO TAKASU, United Nations Controller, responding to Member States' comments and questions, said the budget was prepared on the basis of the medium-term plan. Since the revised section of the plan on human rights had not been approved by the CPC, the Secretary-General used the approved 1992- 1997 medium-term plan as the framework for this section of the budget. Therefore, the Assembly's mandates were not pre-empted. The subsequent mandates of the Vienna conference and the mandate creating the Office of the High Commissioner were also part of the framework. All mandates had identified human rights as a priority and the Secretariat had therefore tried to allocate resources accordingly. The allocation had been limited to the minimum requirements and an increase of only $3 million was being requested. More than $4.4 million was coming from "delayed impact" -- that is, action that had not yet been carried out in the previous biennium. In addition to the $3 million there had been some efficiency gains. That increase was therefore not unreasonable.

The budget also reflected the findings of the Office of Internal Oversight Services and the Board of Auditors regarding the functions of senior officials which had been clearly defined by the Office, he continued. The Secretary-General believed that the terms of reference were adequate for those officials and had accepted their amendment to involve the High Commissioner in the preparation of the medium-term plan. Those changes would ensure that the senior officials would work as a team with the High Commissioner providing strategic policy-making in the area of human rights.

The Under-Secretary-General would undertake the Centre's day-to-day management. Five branches, headed by officials at the D-1 level, would carry out the Centre's work programme. The Centre had received advice from an independent consultant on the work programme, whose findings would be reflected in the implementation of the budget.

Regarding the work programme, he said the basic principle was that resources should be related to each subprogramme. The increase in travel had been requested as a result of mandates of the Economic and Social Council, such as that necessary for the work of special rapporteurs. The budget reflected the need for slightly more contractual services for data processing services in response to Internal Oversight recommendations. On the right to development, he re-stated the mandates existing in the medium-term plan on the subprogrammes. The Secretariat had tried to reflect that important area.

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The Centre was acting on the recommendations of the Board of Auditors on its publication policies. However, some aspects of publications were not related to the Department of Public Information (DPI). The Centre was receiving support from DPI staff in Geneva and therefore avoided duplication.

He referred to the issue of the status of posts and the lack of agreement by the Assembly on the need for the establishment of some posts. For the next biennium there was a request for the conversion of posts. The appointment of senior administrative staff to the Centre would ensure an improvement of its services. The large number of interns at the Centre existed at no cost to the Organization.

The Director of the Programme Planning and Budget Division of the Office of Programme Planning, Budget and Accounts, JEAN-PIERRE HALBWACHS, said the resources on the Convention on Migrant Workers had been taken away as it was envisaged that it would not come into force in 1996-1997. If it came into force then, the Secretariat would return to seek resources to follow-up on its implementation. Most of the money for travel was related to the travel of representatives, rapporteur and others appointed by the Economic and Social Council. The Centre's staff composition would be released in a day or two in a staff list to be published on every organizational unit. The errors that Japan had raised had been corrected.

Ms. GOICOCHEA ESTENOZ (Cuba) said that some of her basic points were not answered and expressed hope that they would be. She did not agree with the programme justification on the section given by the Controller. There was an imbalance in taking into account the new mandates that been legislated, and that troubled her, despite the Controller's statement. The Secretariat should give more information on some of the basic points that had not been cleared in the answer from the Secretariat officials. The information could be provided in the informal consultations on the budget sections.

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