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• limitations on the capacity of the Centre due to budget constraints must be addressed.  It is worth noting that its budget has not been updated since 2007.
• With appropriate resources, the Centre will be able to do even more for the Congo as well as civil society.  Currently only $200,000 is allocated to activities in 11 countries.  This year, the community is determined to increase the budget to strengthen the Centre’s mandate, she said.
• The representative of Nigeria said that she could not overemphasize the importance of the Centre in the protection of human rights.  It has been important in advancing security and combatting terrorism in the region.  By increasing its capacity, it can advance rights further.
• The representative of the United States voiced support for the draft, reaffirming that all human rights are universal.  However, he voiced concern that operative paragraph 6 seeks to narrow the focus on social and cultural rights.  Budget implications should be kept to a minimum and be backed by a solid analysis of results, he said.
• The representative of Djibouti said that the national human rights institution is vastly underfunded and is crumbling under the burden of such a shortage as well as a lack of human resources.  Djibouti lends its support to the draft, he said, noting that he looks forward to the Centre’s revival.  Reiterating concerns over the budget, he said that, ...

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