Reaffirms that the medium-term plan is the principal policy directive of the United Nations and shall serve as the framework for the next biennial programme budget;
2
Also reaffirms the importance of ensuring that the medium-term plan reflects all mandated programmes and activities;
3
Stresses the importance of ensuring that all legislative mandates are accurately translated into programmes;
4
Also stresses the need to continue considering the impact of the new format of the medium-term plan for 2002-2005 on the rest of the cycle;
5
Notes that some of the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination at its thirty-ninth session, as adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 54/236 of 23 December 1999, regarding revisions to the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation had not been fully reflected in the Secretary-General’s bulletin containing the revised edition9 of the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning;
Requeststhe Secretary-General to ensure that, in presenting the medium-term plan, expected accomplishments and, where possible, indicators of achievement are included to measure achievements in the implementation of the programmes of the Organization, not those of individual Member States;
7
Stresses that the Secretary-General, in formulating the strategy components of future medium-term plans, should clearly present the approach that will be taken, the type of activities to be carried out and the course of action proposed to achieve the objective desired and to ensure that in subsequent programme budgets planned activities are programmed and reflected in the outputs to be produced;
8
Adopts the proposed medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005,1 together with the relevant recommendations of the Committee and the additional conclusions and recommendations contained in the annex to the present resolution;
II.Programme performance report
1
Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the programme performance of the United Nations for the biennium 1998-1999;4
2
Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination10 regarding the report of the Secretary-General on the programme performance of the United Nations for the biennium 1998-1999;
10Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 16 (A/55/16), part two, chap. II, paras. 21 and 22.
3
Takes note of the recommendations of the Committee11 on the report of the Secretary-General on ways in which the full implementation and the quality of mandated programmes and activities could be ensured and could be better assessed by and reported to Member States;6
Recognizes the need for clear statements of objectives, expected accomplishments and corresponding indicators of achievement in future medium-term plans and programme budgets in order to ensure better assessment of the implementation of programmes in the context of the biennial programme performance reports, in accordance with the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning;
III.Other conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination
Endorses all other conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination on the work of its fortieth session.
Conclusions and recommendations on the proposed medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005
Programme 19 should read as follows:
Programme 19 Human rights
Overall orientation
191
The purpose of the United Nations human rights programme is to promote universal enjoyment of all human rights by giving practical effect to the will and resolve of the world community as expressed by the United Nations. Its mandate derives from Articles 1, 13 and 55 of the Charter of the United Nations, the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 199312 and subsequently endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 48/121 of 20 December 1993, the mandate of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights as defined in Assembly resolution 48/141 of the same date, international human rights instruments adopted by the United Nations and the resolutions and decisions of policy-making bodies. The programme is based on the principles and recommendations of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action.
The programme is under the responsibility of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, who performs her or his functions under the direction and authority of the Secretary-General in accordance with resolution 48/141. Its objectives are to provide the leading role on human rights issues and to emphasize the importance of human rights on the international and national agendas; to promote international cooperation for human rights; to stimulate and coordinate action across the whole United Nations system; to promote universal ratification and implementation of international standards and to assist in the development of new norms; to support human rights organs and treaty-monitoring bodies; to anticipate serious violations and react to violations; to emphasize preventive human rights action and to promote the establishment of national human rights infrastructures; to undertake human rights field activities and operations; and to provide education, information, advisory services and technical assistance in the field of human rights.
193
By the end of the period covered by the present medium-term plan, it is expected that the following will have been accomplished:
a
A significant enhancement and strengthening of international cooperation in the field of human rights leading to increased effectiveness of international machinery, improved respect for human rights at the national level, through, inter alia, universal ratification of all international human rights treaties, the incorporation of those standards into the domestic legislation of States and the continuing adaptation of the United Nations human rights machinery to current and future needs in the promotion and protection of human rights, as reflected in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action;
b
Major strengthening of coordination for human rights across the United Nations system, leading to a comprehensive and integrated approach to the promotion and protection of human rights based on the contribution of each of the United Nations organs, bodies and specialized agencies whose activities deal with human rights and on improved inter-agency cooperation and coordination;
c
The adoption and implementation of an integrated and multidimensional strategy for the promotion and protection of the right to development, accompanied by a significant enhancement of support from relevant United Nations bodies for that purpose;
d
Provision of the appropriate assistance by the Secretariat and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to ensure that the promotion and protection of all human rights are guided by the principles of impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity, in the spirit of constructive international dialogue and cooperation;
e
Compliance by the Office of the High Commissioner with the paramount consideration of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, and with due regard to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible, bearing in mind that the principle of equitable geographical distribution is compatible with the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity;
f
A significant increase in the recognition of economic, social and cultural rights and in activities for their protection, including the integration of economic, social and cultural rights as human rights into the strategies and programmes of international organizations, agencies and financial and developmental institutions, the identification of measures of achievement showing success in respecting those rights and the adoption of a communication procedure relating to non-compliance with economic, social and cultural rights;
g
The adoption and progressive implementation of an improved treaty-monitoring system dealing with multiple reporting obligations and based on a comprehensive national approach;
h
The implementation of a strengthened system of special procedures based on harmonization and rationalization of work;
i
The reinforcement of the United Nations as the unique worldwide forum for the discussion and resolution of human rights matters of international concern, with the participation of all relevant actors;
j
The adoption of more efficient methods within the United Nations to promote and protect human rights, including by preventing human rights violations throughout the world and removing obstacles to the full realization of human rights;
k
The implementation of a comprehensive United Nations programme to assist States, at their request, in developing and implementing national human rights plans of action strengthening, inter alia, national structures having an impact on democracy and the rule of law; to establish national institutions to give effect to the right to development and economic, social and cultural rights; and to assist States, at their request, within the respective mandates of the Secretariat and the Office of the High Commissioner, in the process of ratifying United Nations human rights instruments;
l
Fulfilment of the mandates given to the Secretariat for giving appropriate assistance, according to the resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on Human Rights, to treaty bodies, intergovernmental and expert bodies, as well as the existing relevant voluntary trust funds;
m
The full integration of the human rights of women and the girl child into the activities of the United Nations system as a whole and its human rights machinery in particular;
n
The implementation of effective measures to promote equality, dignity and tolerance, to fight racism and xenophobia and to protect minorities, indigenous populations, migrant workers, the disabled and others, taking into account also the outcome of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, to be held in 2001;
o
The establishment of effective programmes of education and public information and the strengthened contribution of non-governmental organizations, national institutions, grass-roots organizations and civil society in United Nations human rights activities at all levels, according to the legislative mandates in effect regarding these issues;
p
The provision to States, United Nations bodies, experts and the academic community of high-quality research and analysis on human rights issues, including that dealing with emerging problems and the development of new standards and instruments.
Subprogramme 1 Right to development, research and analysis
Objectives and strategy
194
The primary objectives of this subprogramme will include the promotion and protection of the right to development. In this regard, the objectives will be to develop an integrated and multidimensional strategy for the implementation, coordination and promotion of the right to development in accordance with the Declaration on the Right to Development13 and subsequent mandates and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, aimed at facilitating action to be taken by relevant bodies of the United Nations system, including treaty bodies, international development and financial institutions and non-governmental organizations, for the implementation of the right to development as an integral part of fundamental human rights, ensuring the realization of the right to development across the human rights programme and by specialized agencies and United Nations treaty bodies; to promote national implementation of the right to development through coordination with State-appointed officials; to identify obstacles at the national and international levels; and to promote awareness about the content and importance of the right to development, including through information and educational activities.
With regard to research and analysis, the objectives will be to strengthen respect for human rights by increasing knowledge, awareness and understanding of human rights issues through data collection, research and analysis. These objectives will be pursued within the framework of the indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights and will be aimed at facilitating the implementation of standards, the work of treaty bodies, special rapporteurs and other bodies and the preparation of new standards; ensuring the recognition on the national and international levels of economic, social and cultural rights; promoting democracy and strengthening national human rights institutions and procedures for the rule of law; contributing to the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and new forms of discrimination; and strengthening the recognition of the human rights of women and children and the protection of vulnerable groups such as minorities, migrant workers and indigenous people.
Expected accomplishments
196
Expected accomplishments of the Secretariat would include:
a
Wider integration and/or inclusion of the promotion and protection of the right to development, in particular across the human rights programme and the relevant programmes of work of the United Nations departments and/or offices and specialized agencies and of major international organizations and forums related to this issue;
b
Major strengthening of coordination for human rights across the United Nations system, leading to a comprehensive and integrated approach to the promotion and protection of human rights based on the contribution of each of the United Nations organs, bodies and specialized agencies whose activities deal with human rights and also based on improved inter-agency cooperation and coordination;
c
Strengthened efforts which will contribute to the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;
d
Enhanced awareness, knowledge and understanding of all human rights, including the right to development;
e
Wider recognition of the rights of women, children and persons belonging to minorities, migrant workers, indigenous people and persons with disabilities, and strengthening the protection of vulnerable groups.
Measurements of achievement
197
Measures of achievement are elements used as tools for determining, where possible, the extent to which the objectives and/or expected accomplishments have been achieved.
198
Measures of achievement of the Secretariat would include:
a
The extent to which the right to development had been included in the work programmes of the departments and offices of the United Nations, the specialized agencies and other relevant intergovernmental organizations, providing compiled examples of concrete steps in that regard;
b
The extent to which the mandates given to the Secretariat contained in resolutions and decisions adopted by the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on Human Rights, had been fulfilled;
c
The holding of seminars and workshops organized by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in accordance with the relevant resolutions and decisions adopted by the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on Human Rights, or in cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner, and the extent to which they contributed to the fulfilment of the objectives of the subprogramme;
d
The extent to which the activities of the Office of the High Commissioner contributed to increasing knowledge, awareness and understanding in order to advance the full realization of the right to development, in accordance with the Declaration on the Right to Development;
e
Increased number of visitors to the web site of the Office of the High Commissioner;
f
The number of new publications of the Office of the High Commissioner as well as their distribution, and the assessment by users of their quality and usefulness.
Subprogramme 2 Supporting human rights bodies and organs
Objectives and strategy
199
The objectives are to support the United Nations human rights bodies and organs and to facilitate their deliberations by ensuring and enhancing their effective functioning; to contribute to increasing the knowledge, expanding the awareness and promoting the importance of all international human rights treaties; to improve existing procedures through rationalization and streamlining, and the coordination of the participation of Governments, experts, specialized agencies, other international organizations, national institutions and non-governmental organizations in their work; and to ensure the analytical capacity of human rights treaty bodies for the review of State party reports under international treaties and for the processing of communications.
Expected accomplishments
1910
Expected accomplishments of the Secretariat would include:
a
The timely delivery of required and appropriate support to intergovernmental bodies, expert bodies and treaty bodies, inter alia, in order to contribute to reducing the backlog in the consideration by the reviewing mechanisms of the States parties’ reports;
b
The timely delivery of required and appropriate support to intergovernmental bodies, expert bodies and treaty bodies, inter alia, in order to contribute to reducing the backlog in the consideration by the reviewing mechanisms of complaints.
Measurements of achievement
1911
Measures of achievement are elements used as tools for determining, where possible, the extent to which the objectives and/or expected accomplishments have been achieved.
1912
Measures of achievement of the Secretariat would include:
a
The quality and timeliness of services provided by the Office of the High Commissioner;
b
A reduction in the time lag between the submission of a State party report and its examination by the relevant treaty body;
c
A reduction in the time lag between the submission of a complaint and its review, as appropriate, by the relevant mechanisms;
d
The number of reports prepared by the Secretariat in accordance with resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on Human Rights, and the extent to which they were presented in a timely manner, in compliance with the six-week rule for the issuance of documentation, for consideration by organs dealing with human rights.
Subprogramme 3 Advisory services, technical cooperation, support to human rights fact-finding procedures and field activities
Objectives and strategy
1913
In the area of advisory services and technical cooperation, the objectives are to assist countries, at their request, in developing comprehensive national plans of action to promote and protect human rights and to provide advice and support to specific projects to promote respect for human rights; to develop a comprehensive and coordinated United Nations programme to help States in building and strengthening national structures for human rights promotion and protection; and to raise awareness and promote specialized knowledge about human rights through the organization of training courses, seminars and workshops, and the production of a wide range of educational, training and information material.
1914
In the area of support to fact-finding bodies, the objectives are to ensure the effective functioning of human rights monitoring mechanisms by assisting special rapporteurs and representatives, experts and working groups mandated by policy-making bodies, including through the preparation of information regarding alleged violations and situations for review and the provision of support for missions and meetings; and to enhance the efficiency of action by policy-making bodies by providing analytical information on human rights situations.
1915
With respect to field activities, the objective is to ensure the efficiency of field missions and presences through the maintenance of contacts with Governments, appropriate sectors of the United Nations system, international and regional organizations and others by supporting and developing such activities through the development of training programmes and materials for human rights field staff and training in human rights for the appropriate components of other United Nations field operations.
Expected accomplishments
1916
Expected accomplishments of the Secretariat would include:
a
Provision of advisory services and technical and financial assistance, at the request of the State concerned and, where appropriate, the regional human rights organizations, with a view to supporting actions and programmes in the field of human rights;
b
Fulfilment of the mandates given to the Office of the High Commissioner in resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on Human Rights to support human rights monitoring mechanisms, such as special rapporteurs/representatives and expert and working groups mandated by policy-making bodies;
c
Enhanced awareness, knowledge and understanding of all human rights, including the right to development.
Measurements of achievement
1917
Measures of achievement are elements used as tools for determining, where possible, the extent to which the objectives and/or expected accomplishments have been achieved.
1918
Measures of achievement of the Secretariat would include:
a
The number of seminars, workshops and training courses held or supported by the Office of the High Commissioner; and the number of persons trained, participants in seminars and workshops and fellowships granted, as well as data on their geographical distribution, and the extent to which they contributed to the fulfilment of the objectives of the subprogramme;
b
The number of requests from Member States and, where appropriate, from the regional human rights organizations, received and fulfilled by the Office of the High Commissioner for the provision of advisory services and technical and financial assistance, with a view to supporting actions and programmes in the field of human rights;
c
The timeliness, significance and relevance of the advisory services and technical cooperation.
Legislative mandates Programme 19 Human rights
General Assembly resolutions
48/121 World Conference on Human Rights
48/141 High Commissioner for the promotion and protection of all human rights
53/166 Comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (Subprogrammes 1 and 2)
54/138 Violence against women migrant workers (Subprogrammes 1 and 2)
54/168 Respect for the principles of national sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of States in their electoral processes (Subprogrammes 1 and 3)
54/169 Respect for the right to universal freedom of travel and the vital importance of family reunification (Subprogrammes 1 and 2)
54/173 Strengthening the role of the United Nations in enhancing the effectiveness of the principle of periodic and genuine elections and the promotion of democratization (Subprogrammes 1 and 3)
54/174 Strengthening United Nations action in the field of human rights through the promotion of international cooperation and the importance of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity
55/96 Promoting and consolidating democracy
55/101 Respect for the purposes and principles contained in the Charter of the United Nations to achieve international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms and in solving international problems of humanitarian character
55/102 Globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of all human rights
55/107 Promotion of a democratic and equitable international order
Economic and Social Council resolution
2000/22 Establishment of a Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
Economic and Social Council agreed conclusions
Agreed conclusions 1998/2 on the coordinated follow-up to and implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action
Commission on Human Rights resolutions
1994/95 World Conference on Human Rights (Subprogrammes 1 and 2)
2000/73 Composition of the staff of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Subprogramme 1 Right to development, research and analysis
General Assembly resolutions
41/128 Declaration on the Right to Development
53/142 Strengthening of the rule of law
53/146 Human rights and extreme poverty
54/133 Traditional or customary practices affecting the health of women and girls
54/134 International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
54/135 Improvement of the situation of women in rural areas
54/137 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
54/141 Follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action
54/148 The girl child
54/149 The rights of the child
54/150 International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People
54/153 Measures to combat contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance
54/154 Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination and the convening of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance
54/155 Universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination
54/159 Elimination of all forms of religious intolerance
54/160 Human rights and cultural diversity
54/162 Effective promotion of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities
54/163 Human rights in the administration of justice
54/164 Human rights and terrorism
54/167 Protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons
54/172 Human rights and unilateral coercive measures
54/175 The right to development
54/181 Enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights
55/66 Working towards the elimination of crimes against women committed in the name of honour
55/68 Elimination of all forms of violence against women, including crimes identified in the outcome document of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled “Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century”
55/86 Use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination
55/89 Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
55/92 Protection of migrants
55/98 Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
55/102 Globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of all human rights
55/103 Question of enforced or involuntary disappearances
55/111 Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions
Economic and Social Council decision
1999/12 Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance
Commission on Human Rights resolutions
1999/22 Effects on the full enjoyment of human rights of the economic adjustment policies arising from foreign debt and, in particular, on the implementation of the Declaration on the Right to Development
1999/25 Question of the realization in all countries of the economic, social and cultural rights contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and study of special problems which the developing countries face in their efforts to achieve these human rights
1999/34 Impunity
1999/40 Traffic in women and girls
1999/46 Contemporary forms of slavery
1999/61 Question of the death penalty
1999/65 Fundamental standards of humanity
2000/10 The right to food
2000/36 Question of arbitrary detention
2000/38 The right to freedom of opinion and expression
2000/46 Integrating the human rights of women throughout the United Nations system
2000/61 Human rights defenders
2000/62 Promotion of the right to a democratic and equitable international order
2000/82 Effects of structural adjustment policies and foreign debt on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights
Subprogramme 2 Supporting human rights bodies and organs
General Assembly resolutions
2106 A (XX) International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
2200 (XXI) International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
39/46 Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
44/25 Convention on the Rights of the Child
53/138 Effective implementation of international instruments on human rights, including reporting obligations under international instruments on human rights
54/157 International Covenants on Human Rights
55/88 International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
Economic and Social Council resolutions and decision
1503 (XLVIII) Procedure for dealing with communications relating to violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms
1979/36 Further promotion and encouragement of human rights and fundamental freedoms
1990/48 Enlargement of the Commission on Human Rights and the further promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms
1999/256 Rationalization of the work of the Commission on Human Rights
Economic and Social Council agreed conclusions
Agreed conclusions 1998/2 on the coordinated follow-up to and implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action
Commission on Human Rights resolutions
2000/22 Cooperation with representatives of United Nations human rights bodies
2000/46 Integrating the human rights of women throughout the United Nations system
Subprogramme 3 Advisory services, technical cooperation, support to human rights fact-finding procedures and field activities
General Assembly resolutions
926 (X) Advisory services in the field of human rights
53/148 Regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights
54/151 Use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination
54/161 United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004, and public information activities in the field of human rights
54/176 National institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights
54/180 Human rights and mass exoduses
Economic and Social Council resolution
1235 (XLII) Question of the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including policies of racial discrimination and segregation and of apartheid in all countries, with particular reference to colonial and other dependent countries and territories
Commission on Human Rights resolutions
1995/53 Advisory services and the Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights
