EU provides €10m exceptional help for UN human rights body

EU Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs Wednesday announced an exceptional contribution of 10 million euro in response to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay's urgent appeal to invest more in human rights. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights faces a funding shortfall for the third year in a row. Its budget for 2013 has already been reduced by 12pct (about 13 million euro), a decision which affects its ability to prevent human rights violations, he noted in a statement. "We have decided to make this contribution as this UN Office represents the world's commitment to universal ideals of human dignity," said EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and Piebalgs in a joint statement. On her part Pillay said , "I'm really happy my appeal has been heard by the European Commission." "This is a much-needed and extremely welcome increase in the Commission's funding for human rights. I hope that my call will also be heard by other donors," she added in press statements.