Mr. Chairman,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on agenda item 134: proposed programme budget for the biennium 2016-2017, in particular the request for a subvention to the Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone; the Revised Estimates for the Human Rights Council; and the Contingency Fund: consolidated statement of programme budget implications and revised estimates.

At the outset, the Group would like to thank Ms. Bettina Tucci Bartsiotas, Assistant Secretary-General, Controller, for introducing the Secretary-General's reports contained in documents A/70/565, A/70/562 as well as A/C.5/70/19 and Corr.1. The Group would further like to thank Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Chair of the Advisory Committee for Administrative and Budgetary Questions for introducing its related reports contained in documents A/70/7/Add.30, A/70/7/Add.28 and A/70/7/Add.34.

Mr. Chairman,

The Group of 77 and China attaches great importance to the smooth functioning of mandated judicial institutions, including the Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone. In this regard, the Group pays close attention to the financial situation of the Court. The Group welcomes and supports the proposal by the Secretary-General related to the request for the subvention in the total amount of US$ 6.04 million for the period 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2017. The Group notes that the proposed resources will cover key activities related to supervision of the enforcement of sentences; review of convictions and acquittals; conduct of contempt of court proceedings or referrals; witness and victim protection and support; as well as preservation and management of the archives of the Special Court.

Mr. Chairman,

The Group of 77 and China is a staunch supporter of the human rights pillar of the Organization in general, and of the Human Rights Council, in particular. In this context, the Group reaffirms its view that the mandates approved by the Council should be adequately resourced, so as to provide for their full and timely implementation. The Group notes that the decisions and resolutions approved by the Human Rights Council in 2015 would result in additional requirements in the amount of $30,588,100 of which $10,711,400 relates to activities of a perennial nature that have thus been included in the programme budget for the biennium 2014-2015 and the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2016-2017.

The Group further notes the remaining $19,876,700, which are new requests that the Secretary-General proposes to meet in the context of the second performance report of the programme budget for the biennium 2014-2015; through accommodation within the approved appropriations for the current biennium; as well as $11,367,300 under the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2016-2017, by way of a charge against the contingency fund.

In the course of our deliberations on this important agenda item, the Group of 77 and China will seek detailed clarifications on these issues, as well as on the proposal of the Secretary-General for the establishment of three new posts at the P-3 level to support the activities mandated by the Council.

Mr. Chairman,

With regard to the Contingency Fund consolidated statement of programme budget implications and revised estimates, the Group of 77 and China emphasizes that it is the responsibility of the Secretary-General, as chief administrative officer of the Organization, to ensure that the proposed programme budget presents the fullest possible picture of the Organization's requirement for any given biennium.

The Group notes that since the creation of the fund in the 1990-1991 biennium - 14 biennia ago - the size of the fund has continued to be set at 0.75 percent of the overall level of resources approved in the context of the budget outline. In this context, the Group acknowledges that it is not always possible to fit new initiatives within the biennial cycle of the regular budget and, therefore, additional resources must be considered.

 The Group emphasizes that the contingency fund is an essential budgetary instrument for addressing additional resource requirements. It also recalls the need to adhere to the provisions of General Assembly resolutions 41/213 and 42/211 on the use of the Fund and stresses that the Secretary-General should bring any constraints in this regard to the attention of the Assembly in a timely manner.

In conclusion, Mr Chairman, the Group of 77 and China assures you of its readiness to engage constructively on these important agenda items.

I thank you, Mr. Chairman.