Report on the activities of the Office of Internal Oversight Services A/RES/74/256 the need to improve the average time required to complete the growing number of investigations into a range of misconduct, including cases of sexual harassment; 17. Notes the average time taken to complete investigations, and encourages the Office to continue to reduce the average time taken to complete investigations and to report on the measures undertaken in this regard in its next report; 18. Encourages the Office to continue to ensure the oversight, through audits and investigations, of United Nations peacekeeping missions that are closing and to report thereon in its next report; 19. Recognizes the high level of risk inherent in United Nations procurement activities, and requests the Secretary-General to entrust the Office with strengthening its focus on the monitoring of such activities, including on evaluating implementation and existing practice within the Organization regarding restrictions on employment after separation of staff involved in the procurement process and sanctions for violations, as well as with reporting thereon in conjunction with the related report of the Secretary-General on procurement; 20. Welcomes the efforts and progress made by the Office in reducing the number of vacant posts, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to make every effort to fill the remaining vacant posts and ensure the retention of staff, particularly in the Investigations Division, in accordance with Article 101 of the Charter of the United Nations; II Activities of the Independent Audit Advisory Committee Recalling its resolutions 61/275 of 29 June 2007, 64/263, section II of its resolution 65/250, section II of its resolution 66/236, section II of its resolution 67/258, section II of its resolution 68/21, section II of its resolution 69/252, section II of its resolution 70/111, section II of its resolution 71/7, section II of its resolution 72/18 and section II of its resolution 73/275, Having considered the report of the Independent Audit Advisory Committee on its activities for the period from 1 August 2018 to 31 July 2019, 2 1. Notes with appreciation the work of the Independent Audit Advisory Committee; 2. Reaffirms the terms of reference of the Committee, as contained in the annex to its resolution 61/275; 3. Endorses the observations, comments and recommendations contained in the report of the Committee; 2 4. Invites the Committee to continue to examine the operational independence of the Office, including on budgetary matters; 5. Encourages the Committee to continue its consultations with all relevant bodies in the United Nations, including on the implementation of its recommendations, as appropriate. 52nd (resumed) plenary meeting 27 December 2019 __________________ 2 19-22722 A/74/280. 3/3