Contents Foreword ....................................................................................................v Introduction................................................................................................. 1 I. ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL FACT-FINDING AND INVESTIGATION BODIES............. 6 II. MANDATES.................................................................................................. 8 III. OPERATIONAL ASPECTS.............................................................................. 17 A. Selection and appointment of members.................................................... 18 B. The secretariat...................................................................................... 22 C. Resources............................................................................................. 28 D. Commencement of the commission’s/mission’s work.................................. 30 IV. METHODOLOGICAL ASPECTS....................................................................... 32 A. Principles and standards........................................................................ 33 B. Human rights investigations process........................................................ 36 C. Gathering and assessing information....................................................... 40 D. Access and cooperation........................................................................ 64 E. Methodological tools............................................................................. 65 F. Terms of reference................................................................................. 67 G. Methods of work................................................................................... 69 H. Rules of procedure................................................................................ 69 I. Information management ...................................................................... 70 J. Protection of victims, witnesses, sources and other cooperating persons....... 74 K. Public information and the media............................................................ 82 V. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS.............................................................. 88 A. Report................................................................................................. 89 B. Recommendations................................................................................. 94 VI. FOLLOW-UP............................................................................................. 100 GUIDANCE AND PRACTICE iii