§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development in which countries she contributes assistance to the work of a human rights commission; how much has been contributed in the past three years for which figures are available; and what proportion of the total budget of that body this sum represents. [66699]
§ Clare ShortMy Department has directly supported the human rights commissions of Rwanda and Zambia. In the former, we financed a review, and in the latter the production of a strategy. This work cost £10,800 in 2000–01 and £27,200 in 1998–99 respectively. I shall write to the hon. Member on the final part of his question, which could not be researched in the time available.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights takes primary responsibility for assisting governments to establish such institutions. Planned funding by my Department of OHCHR amounts to £6 million over three years, under the terms of an Institutional Strategy Paper 710W sighed in 1999. This support is for broad improvement in capacity. Under this arrangement we have provided in the calendar years:
£ million 2000 1.247 2001 2.115 Information on its website, http:/www.unhchr.ch shows that total extra-budgetary expenditure in 2001 by OHCHR was US%48.8 million, of which 0.8 per cent. was allocated to national human rights institutions.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office provided £100,000 to OHCHR in 2001 for support to national institutions, and plan £150,000 in 2002.