Annual Report 2011–2012 Engagement in regional and international human rights mechanisms draws significantly on the resources of member NHRIs. It is therefore important to understand the costs and benefits of this engagement. This year APF members were asked to provide estimates of the cost of engaging in UN processes during the year in both staff time and dollars. Members were also asked to rate the value to them of the work of the UN, OHCHR and the ICC. Figure 13: Number of members spending 0–20, 20–50 and more than 50 days on UN processes ICC meetings ICC conferences Universal Periodic Review 0-20 days UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights 20-50 days Treaty body review 50+ days UN Human Rights Council UN General Assembly Special Procedure mandate holder 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 The financial costs of engaging in UN processes were as high as US$112 000 spent by one member to support participation in the UPR. As Figure 13 shows the UPR also required the most time from member NHRIs, with half of APF members spending more than a month of staff time on these reviews during 2011–12. Members spent almost as much time on the GA and the Human Rights Council. In total the 14 member NHRIs who responded to this survey reported spending a combined total of almost US$900 000 work on UN processes. About a quarter of this is spent on the UPR and just over a third on ICC meetings, as shown in Figure 14. Figure 14: Allocation of spending (percent) working on UN processes (cumulative total for all members responding) 3% 4% ICC meetings 7% 8% Universal Periodic Review Treaty body review UN Human Rights Council 38% 13% 27% Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Special Procedure mandate holder UN General Assembly Members valued the work of the UN, OHCHR and the ICC very highly, the median responses indicating that these institutions are very useful and very relevant to the APF members. Their responses also indicated that members by and large find that all these institutions are respectful of the role of an NHRI and are prompt and efficient in its dealings with NHRIs, although a small number of members reported much lower levels of satisfaction in respect of their dealing with the UN and OHCHR. 4. Engage with regional and international human rights mechanisms | 49