Typically, the first meeting of the commission/mission includes: (i) Discussion and deliberation on its: • Mandate • Terms of reference • Methods of work • Programme of work, including field missions (where, how many and when), other meetings of members and report preparation and timelines • Media strategy (ii) Substantive briefings on issues related to its mandate by: • OHCHR (this includes briefings both on human rights issues and on practice and experience related to the operation of similar bodies, including methodological and legal aspects) • United Nations agencies • NGOs • Other relevant international or regional organizations • Individual experts (iii) Meetings with: • Mandating authority • Representatives of the country concerned • Representatives of other relevant countries • High Commissioner for Human Rights (iv) Technical briefings on: • Administrative rules and processes applicable to the members during their assignment • Security briefing • Media and publicity strategy Discussions are supported by background documentation and option papers on the commission’s/mission’s establishment, mandate, terms of reference, methods of work, applicable legal framework, investigations scenarios and other preliminary research. It is particularly important, at the beginning of the commission’s/mission’s work, to establish effective work modalities between the members and the secretariat, based on a clear understanding of expectations and roles, and on trust. The role of the coordinator, both in acting as a link between the members and the rest of the secretariat and in effectively managing the human and other resources assigned to the commission/mission, is key in this regard. The development of a work programme and the assignment of tasks within the secretariat is also a very important function of the coordinator at this stage, based on a review of the commission’s/mission’s mandate and work needs. GUIDANCE AND PRACTICE 31

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