Human Rights Council

Resolution 6/17. Establishment of funds for the universal periodic review mechanism of the Human Rights Council

The Human Rights Council,

Bearing in mind that the universal periodic review is a cooperative mechanism

with the full involvement of the country concerned and with consideration given to its

capacity-building needs in accordance with General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15

March 2006,

Underlining the fact that the institution-building text adopted on 18 June 2007

states that a universal periodic review Voluntary Trust Fund should be established to

facilitate the participation of developing countries, particularly least developed

countries, in the universal periodic review,

Recalling that the institution-building text also requests the Council to decide

on the question whether to resort to existing financing mechanisms or to create a new

mechanism,

1. Requests the Secretary-General to establish a universal periodic review

Voluntary Trust Fund to facilitate the participation of developing countries,

particularly least developing countries, in the universal periodic review mechanism;

2. Also requests the Secretary-General to establish a new financial

mechanism called the Voluntary Fund for Financial and Technical Assistance to be

administered jointly with the universal periodic review Voluntary Trust Fund

mentioned in paragraph 1, in order to provide, in conjunction with multilateral

funding mechanisms, a source of financial and technical assistance to help countries

implement recommendations emanating from the universal periodic review in

consultation with, and with the consent of, the country concerned;

3. Urges all member States, observers and other stakeholders of the

Council to support the operationalization of the above funds;

4. Requests the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to

take the necessary measures with a view to expeditiously operationalizing the

mechanisms;

5. Decides to follow up on the matter under the same agenda item at its

seventh session.

[Adopted without a vote] 21st meeting

28 September 2007

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