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Internal Matters Like Staffing of High Commissioner’s Office Should Not Be Subject of HRC Resolutions
Explanation of Position by the United States of America
2 MINUTE READ
March 22, 2012

Resolution:  Composition of Staff of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

UN Human Rights Council – 19th Session

Geneva

The United States strongly supports that the paramount consideration in the employment of UN staff is securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.  Due regard shall be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on 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 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.