UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE APPEALS FOR $54.8 MILLION FOR 2004

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 5 December (UN Information Service) -- The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is seeking $54.8 million in contributions to fund activities in the coming year and to continue efforts to strengthen the institution.

The Office’s Annual Appeal 2004, which will be launched officially on 8 December at a meeting of United Nations Member States in Geneva, covers the areas of support to the United Nations human rights organs, including the Commission on Human Rights and the bodies that monitor how human rights treaties are implemented, programmes at the regional and country levels, response to new human rights challenges and the strengthening of OHCHR’s capacity, including in the areas of information technology and staff security.

Introducing the Appeal, acting High Commissioner for Human Rights Bertrand Ramcharan says it comes during one of the most difficult periods in OHCHR’s short history.

“Our challenge”, the acting High Commissioner writes, “has been to maintain momentum in a time of crisis and to honour Sergio [Vieira de Mello’s] memory by sustaining progress in a time of transition –- continuing his efforts to strengthen the institution, to give it a sharper focus and clearer priorities, to streamline and rationalize its structures, to improve its field policies, and to improve its internal management.  These reforms serve our overall goal of promoting an integrated human rights programme that brings together several critical components into a coherent whole.”

Mr. Ramcharan says the Office is grateful that donors have contributed generously in the past and that he hopes for continued commitment and support.  The OHCHR has made considerable progress in achieving management and programme objectives set out in last year’s Appeal.  For the coming year, a rigorous process of planning, analysis and prioritization resulted in a 12 per cent decrease in overall extrabudgetary requirements compared to 2003.

Voluntary contributions, or money given by countries in addition to what is received from the United Nations’ regular budget, are particularly important for the OHCHR, as they account for over two thirds of its total budget.  Secretary-General Kofi Annan has requested more regular budget funding for the Office from the General Assembly for the 2004-2005 period.  The OHCHR will get $27.1 million from the United Nations budget next year.

      The full text of the Annual Appeal 2004 can be found at the following Internet address:  http://www.unhchr.ch/pdf/appeal2004.pdf

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