support steps toward greater efficiency even if it meant revising some of its own earlier decisions.
102. A large number of speakers expressed the hope that the reorganization would lead to the strengthening of UNHCR's field operations. Support was expressed by one speaker for improvements in the management capacity of UNHCR field representatives. One speaker asked how the emphasis on voluntary repatriation would be reflected in the structure of the Office and its operations. One delegate welcomed the reorganization, in particular, of the new Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean, which he felt would facilitate the closer consideration of refugee problems in his region.
103. Almost all speakers welcomed the prospect of a more detailed discussion of the restructuring of the Office at the informal meeting of the Committee in January, which one delegate hoped would be well prepared for, in terms of documentation and prior dialogue. One speaker added that only the formal Executive Committee has a mandate to assess the reorganization in its final shape and required decisions by the thirty-eighth session of the Executive Committee in respect of the level of resources required. Another urged the High Commissioner to consider how the recommendations of the Group of High-level Intergovernmental Experts who had studied the structure of the United Nations could be applied to UNHCR's reorganization as well.
104. Some delegations recalled the Office's commitment to a wider geographical distribution of staff and sought the application of this principle. Some speakers expressed the view that staffing of the Office, particularly at Headquarters, should adequately reflect both in number and level, recruitment from first asylum developing countries hosting large numbers of refugees. One speaker expressed particular concern at the imbalances in the recruitment of staff, noting that certain developed countries continued to be represented at a high level while other countries remained unrepresented. Two speakers welcomed the prospect of an increase in the numbers and level of women staff-members. One delegate called for the submission of up-to-date and realistic staffing tables taking into account the results of the reorganization. Overall staffing levels of "p" and "L" staff should be kept in pace with UNHCR's budget for operations.
105. A number of delegations welcomed the statement of the Chairman of the Staff Council and urged that the concerns he expressed be given due attention. Several speakers expressed concern about conditions of service in the field. One delegation, referring to the comments of the Chairman of the Staff Council in this respect, urged UNHCR to make specific proposals to Governments to redress this problem, if possible to the Informal Meeting to be held in June 1987. Two other speakers supported him, while indicating that any changes should be made within the framework of the United Nations common system.
106. Some delegations expressed support for greater decentralization and delegation of authority and hoped that the present situation would only prove temporary. One speaker expressed the hope that one regular and representative consultative mechanism would be established to deal with all aspects of the career development of staff; this was also necessary to create confidence in the field.
107. Many speakers placed on record their admiration for the hard working and dedicated staff of UNHCR, both at Headquarters and the field. Two delegations joined the Chairman of the Staff Council in paying tribute to those UNHCR colleagues who had lost their lives in serving the refugee cause in the past year.
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