OF NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS FOR THE PROMOTION ANDPROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS (ICC)
REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
ICC 28 General Meeting
Geneva, Switzerland
12March2015
The Finance Committee submitted its most recent reports to theICC 27 General Assembly held in March 13, 2014 in Geneva, Switzerland, and to the ICC Bureau meeting held on 16 and 17October 2014 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
This report has the purpose to provide current information on the ICC finances from March 2014 to date.
Currently, the Finance Committee is composed of the followingfour National Human Rights Institutions (NHRI): Germany, India, Mexico and Morocco, and is chaired by the Mexican National Institution.
Our appreciation and thanks to the Committee members, for their willingness to support the work of this Chair.
The Chair of the Finance Committee also expresses its gratitude to the ICC Chair for his cooperation to facilitate the realization of the activities of this Chair of the Finance Committee.
1. FINANCE UPDATE OF 2013
In its report submitted on March 2014, the Finance Committee stated that, in accordance with the information provided by the ICC Chair on February 21, 2014, the accountant of the association had not completed the accounts corresponding to 2013 and for the same reason, it had not been possible to provide the necessary documentation to the Auditor.
After the meeting and monitoring the situation referred, on April 3, 2014, the Chair of the Finance Committee received from the ICC Chair the report of the Auditor on the financial year ended 31 December 2013.
The audit states that the ICC financial statements corresponding to 2013 are in accordance with Swiss laws and the ICC Statute.
Precisely because of the difficulties the ICC Chair had with the accountant of the association so that he prepare in time the accounting records, the Finance Committee recommended that the Bureau proceed to evaluate the performance of the accountant of the association, in order to make the financial year efficient and strengthen the administration.
In fulfillment of this recommendation, in September 2014, the Chair of the Finance Committee supported the ICC Chair at the meeting with the accountant of the association and also accompanied the ICC Chair in the interviews conducted with different accountants in order to proceed to change the ICC accountant.
2. FINANCE UPDATE OF 2014
According to the financial information provided by the ICC Chair for the year ended December 31, 2014, the ICC had an income of 322,546.81 CHF, a greater amount than that received in 2013 which was of 279,603.41 CHF.
In accordance with the documentation referred, the ICC obtained 307,083.68 CHF for the payment of annual membership subscriptions by National Human Rights Institutions accredited with "A" status from regions of Africa, Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe. This amount is superior to that obtained in 2013 and to the quantity budgeted.
It should be noted that,among 2014 revenues there is a grant of 4,583.50 CHF by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), which was less than the received in 2013.
In accordance with the bank statements at December 31, 2014, the ICC account had a balance of 122,513.89 CHF, 124,695.17 USD and 26,214.64 EUR.
Expenditure in 2014 amounted to 222,987.95 CHF, more than the amount spent in 2013.
According to the information received on 17 February 2015 by the ICC Chair, the data for preparing the audit for 2014 were provided to the Auditor.
3. STATUS OF SUBSCRIPTION FEES PAYMENT OF 2014
a)Subscriptionfeepayment
AtFebruary 16, 2015, of 71 National Institutions with an A status, 54, that is 76%, have paid the subscription fee for 2014 and one has requested a fee waiver for 2014.So an important increase occurred in the fulfillment of the payment of the fee from March to December 2014.
Until February 16, 2015, in Europe, of 22 National Institutions, 21 paid the fee to the ICC for 2014, that is, 95% and none requested a fee waiver.According to these figures, this region is the one with the best percentage of payment of the subscription fee.
In Asia Pacific, of 15 National Institutions, 14 paid the membership fee for 2014, that is93%. No member of this region requested a fee waiver.
Regarding the Americas, nine of 16 members paid, or 56% and only one requested a fee waiver (Peru).
In Africa, of 18 members, 10 paid, that is 55%. No member of Africa requested a fee waiver.This region is the one with the lowest percentage of payment.
The above information is reflected in the following charts:
Total of members with A Status / 2014 feepaid / Waiver / reductionrequested / No replyEurope 22 / 21 / 0 / 1
Asia Pacific 15 / 14 / 0 / 1
Americas 16 / 9 / 1 / 6
Africa 18 / 10 / 0 / 8
Total / 71 / 54 / 1 / 16
Percentage of fee payments per region:
Region / Percentage1 / Europe / 95%
2 / Asia Pacific / 93%
3 / Americas / 56%
4 / Africa / 55%
It is appropriate to extend congratulations to the National Institutions of Bolivia, Greece and Guatemala which in previous years hadrequested a fee waiverand made efforts to pay the fee for 2014.
b)Fee waiver / reduction requests
InMarch2014,the Chair of theFinance Committee receiveda request for a waiver of the membership fee for 2014of the National Institution of Peru.
The Chair of the Finance Committee, after requesting further information to the said National Institution, proceeded to the consideration of the application and in consensus with the members of the Committee, approved the following recommendations:
National Institution of Peru
- It is recommended that the ICC Bureau waives the 2014 subscription fee for the Defensoría del Pueblo del Perú;
- It is recommended that the ICC Bureau encourage the Defensoría del Pueblo del Perú to regularize its situation regarding the membership fees for 2012 and 2013, because it neither paid nor requested a waiver;
- Further, it is recommended that the ICC Bureau urge the Defensoríadel Pueblo del Perú to carry out necessary legal and administrative measures to proceed to the payment of the ICC annual subscription fees from 2015.
At the last meeting of the ICC Bureau, held in October 2014 in Johannesburg, South Africa, the above recommendations were approved and the waiver requested by the NHRI of Peru was granted for the membership fee for 2014.
4. FINANCE UPDATE OF 2015
The budget for 2015 was approved in accordance with the decisions taken at the last meeting of the ICC Bureau, held on 16 and 17 October 2014 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The Finance Committee is pleased that the Bureau has taken on the recommendation of this Committee to strengthen the transparency of the financial year of our association.
According to the bank statements at February 16, 2015, the ICC account has a balance of 187,926.21 CHF, 142,040.93 USD and 30,916.41 EUR.
It should be noted that the projected 2015 income is 273,500.00 CHF.It is worth noting that the payment of annual membership fees represents 91% of budgeted revenue for 2015.
5. STATUS OF SUBSCRIPTION FEES PAYMENT OF 2015
a)Subscriptionfeepayment
AtFebruary 16, 2015, of 71 National Institutions with an A status, 15, that is, 21% have paid the subscription fee for 2015.
Until February 16, 2015, in Asia Pacific, of 15 National Institutions, seven have paid the membership fee for 2015, that is46%. No member of this region has requested a fee waiver.
In Europe, of 22 National Institutions, five have paid the fee to the ICC for 2015, that is, 22% and none has requested a fee waiver.
Regarding the Americas, two of 16 members have paid, or 12% and none hasrequested a fee waiver.
In Africa, of 18 members, one has paid, that is 5%. No member of Africahas requested a fee waiver.
The above information is reflected in the following charts:
Total of members with A Status / 2015 feepaid / Waiver / reductionrequested / No replyAsia Pacific 15 / 7 / 0 / 8
Europe 22 / 5 / 0 / 17
Americas 16 / 2 / 0 / 14
Africa 18 / 1 / 0 / 17
Total / 71 / 15 / 0 / 56
Percentage of fee payments per region:
Region / Percentage1 / Asia Pacific / 46%
2 / Europe / 22%
3 / Americas / 12%
4 / Africa / 5%
It should be noted that at its last meeting in October 2014, the ICC Bureau decided to maintain the 2015 annual membership fee in 5,000 CHF.
This Finance Committee is confident that throughout 2015 more ICC members will pay their membership fees.
The Finance Committee underlines the importance that payments are made in accordance with the ICC guidelines. Therefore, it reiterates its request for a reminder for NHRIs requesting a fee waiver or reduction in the membership fee, to do so according to the ICC Guidelines for the determination of fee waivers.
For the National Human Rights Commission of Mexico is an honor to chair the Finance Committee and contribute, through this participation, to the transparency of the financial year of our association and encourage the work of National Institutions in the world.
The Chair of the Finance Committee reaffirms its commitment to the work of the ICC and expresses its readiness to continue carrying out actions to ensure compliance with the mandate given by the Bureau and the General Assembly of the ICC.
Mr. Luis Raul Gonzalez-Perez
Chairman of the ICC Finance Committee
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