Resolution entitled
“Composition of Staff of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights”
Explanation of Vote by the United States of America
Human Rights Council 16th Session
Geneva,
March 23, 2011
The United States strongly supports that the paramount consideration in the employment of staff is securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard shall be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff in as wide a geographic basis as possible. We believe that the resolution before us is not an appropriate means of achieving these goals. The Human Rights Council is a political body made up of Member States, and should not attempt to instruct the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on internal matters like staffing. UN Member States are best served by a High Commissioner’s Office that is objective, independent, and that reports to the UN Secretary General, not to the UN Human Rights Council. For these reasons, among others, we vote NO on this resolution.