Welcome to the United Nations 
OHCHR 
Press releases Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Default title
28 November 2000
Share
28 November 2000
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is launching its Annual Appeal today, asking for $54 million in voluntary contributions to help fund its activities for 2001.
According to the appeal, presented to donors in Geneva this afternoon by High Commissioner Mary Robinson, the past year saw a substantial increase in the volume of work expected of and undertaken by OHCHR, including expansion of human rights protection activities in the field, the creation of new mandates, more treaty ratifications and an increasing number of requests from governments for technical cooperation. But, the appeal adds, while demand for resources has grown, there has been no commensurate increase in funds from the regular budget of the United Nations. That figure stands at $21,476,600, while OHCHR will require $75,305,609 for 2001. The additional voluntary contributions needed therefore amount to $53,829,009.
This is the second Annual Appeal launched by OHCHR. This year, the Office has received $37,876,931 out of the $54 million it asked for in the Annual Appeal 2000.
The Year Ahead
The Annual Appeal 2001 outlines the main activities of OHCHR and their approximate costs. According to the document:
- A high priority of the Office in 2001 is the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, to be held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 7 September. The World Conference is the biggest event ever organized by the OHCHR and as such imposes many interesting challenges for the Office. A successful World Conference will require adequate resources, and the Appeal outlines that $5,999,898 is needed.
- An increasingly important aspect of human rights protection and promotion are human rights field operations. The field presence of the OHCHR helps ensure that human rights standards are implemented and realized at country level, both in law and practice. Offices in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Colombia, Cambodia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia make significant contributions to peace-making and peace-building in those countries. Activities in 2001 will require $14,653,778.
- The requests from governments for OHCHR to assist with technical cooperation and advisory service are growing in number. The technical cooperation programmes of the Office include national plans of action for human rights, legislative reforms that help national laws conform with international human rights standards, administration of justice, parliaments, the military and the police etc. For 2001, donors are asked to contribute $ 10,569,778 to help realize these projects.
- OHCHR has recognized the need to assist special groups which enjoyment of human rights is likely to be jeopardized. It has therefore set up mechanisms and procedures to protect the rights of minorities, indigenous peoples, trafficking of women and children and victims of HIV/AIDS. To support these activities, an amount of $ 1,860,206 is required from voluntary contributions.
An Increasing Amount of Contributions for a Growing Workload
The growing tasks and responsibilities of the Office are reflected in the increasing amount of voluntary contribution over the last ten years: in 1995, the Office received $15,043,117 in contributions, in 1997 $24,590,363 and in 2000 $37,876,931 as of 28 November. Since 1994, 87 Governments have made financial contributions. Small or large, the Appeal emphasizes, these contributions are invaluable as they demonstrate support for the Office.
The full text of the Annual Appeal 2001 is available from the website of the OHCHR, www.unhchr.ch.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is launching its Annual Appeal today, asking for $54 million in voluntary contributions to help fund its activities for 2001.
According to the appeal, presented to donors in Geneva this afternoon by High Commissioner Mary Robinson, the past year saw a substantial increase in the volume of work expected of and undertaken by OHCHR, including expansion of human rights protection activities in the field, the creation of new mandates, more treaty ratifications and an increasing number of requests from governments for technical cooperation. But, the appeal adds, while demand for resources has grown, there has been no commensurate increase in funds from the regular budget of the United Nations. That figure stands at $21,476,600, while OHCHR will require $75,305,609 for 2001. The additional voluntary contributions needed therefore amount to $53,829,009.
This is the second Annual Appeal launched by OHCHR. This year, the Office has received $37,876,931 out of the $54 million it asked for in the Annual Appeal 2000.
The Year Ahead
The Annual Appeal 2001 outlines the main activities of OHCHR and their approximate costs. According to the document:
- A high priority of the Office in 2001 is the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, to be held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 7 September. The World Conference is the biggest event ever organized by the OHCHR and as such imposes many interesting challenges for the Office. A successful World Conference will require adequate resources, and the Appeal outlines that $5,999,898 is needed.
- An increasingly important aspect of human rights protection and promotion are human rights field operations. The field presence of the OHCHR helps ensure that human rights standards are implemented and realized at country level, both in law and practice. Offices in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Colombia, Cambodia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia make significant contributions to peace-making and peace-building in those countries. Activities in 2001 will require $14,653,778.
- The requests from governments for OHCHR to assist with technical cooperation and advisory service are growing in number. The technical cooperation programmes of the Office include national plans of action for human rights, legislative reforms that help national laws conform with international human rights standards, administration of justice, parliaments, the military and the police etc. For 2001, donors are asked to contribute $ 10,569,778 to help realize these projects.
- OHCHR has recognized the need to assist special groups which enjoyment of human rights is likely to be jeopardized. It has therefore set up mechanisms and procedures to protect the rights of minorities, indigenous peoples, trafficking of women and children and victims of HIV/AIDS. To support these activities, an amount of $ 1,860,206 is required from voluntary contributions.
An Increasing Amount of Contributions for a Growing Workload
The growing tasks and responsibilities of the Office are reflected in the increasing amount of voluntary contribution over the last ten years: in 1995, the Office received $15,043,117 in contributions, in 1997 $24,590,363 and in 2000 $37,876,931 as of 28 November. Since 1994, 87 Governments have made financial contributions. Small or large, the Appeal emphasizes, these contributions are invaluable as they demonstrate support for the Office.
The full text of the Annual Appeal 2001 is available from the website of the OHCHR, www.unhchr.ch.