BOARD OF VOLUNTARY FUND FOR HUMAN RIGHTS TECHNICAL COOPERATION TO MEET IN GENEVA FROM 11 TO 13 NOVEMBER

8 November 2002





The Board of Trustees of the Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights will hold its eighteenth session from 11 to 13 November 2002 in Geneva.

At this meeting, the Board will make recommendations on proposed projects aimed at advancing the promotion and protection of all human rights, democracy, and the rule of law through global, regional and national initiatives around the world. It will projects implemented in Malawi and Uganda and discuss a planned global review of technical cooperation activities.

The Board will also discuss Draft Guidelines on a Human Rights Approach to Poverty Reduction Strategies. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) will brief the Board on its new Treaty Body Recommendations Unit as well as on the follow-up of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. In addition, Board members will meet with contributors to the Fund, as well as with member States of the United Nations.

The Fund was established in 1987 by the Secretary-General to strengthen the United Nations Programme of Technical Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights. The Board of Trustees was established in 1993 to provide expert advice and support fund-raising for the Fund. During the last four years, the Fund has received an average of $6 million per year in contributions and pledges. As of 31 October this year contributions amount to $7 million.

Technical cooperation projects are developed in close cooperation with requesting Governments and the United Nations agencies and programmes present in the countries concerned. Programmes are operational in more than 30 countries. There is a particular emphasis on the creation or strengthening of national human rights institutions; education and training of government officials, lawyers, judges, police and prison officials; penal reform; broad-based education, and public information.

The five members of the Board of Trustees are appointed by the Secretary-General for three years and are chosen for their independence and wide experience in the field of human rights and technical cooperation. Its current members are: Leila I. Takla (Egypt), Chairperson; Thomas Hammarberg (Sweden); Kinhide Mushakoji (Japan); Ligia Bolivar (Venezuela), and Krzysztof Skubiszewski (Poland).

The eighteenth session of the Board will be held in the Conference Room on the First Floor of Palais Wilson.




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