Declaration by members of commissions of inquiry and fact-finding missions “I solemnly declare and promise to exercise my functions independently, impartially, loyally and conscientiously, and to discharge these functions and regulate my conduct in accordance with the terms of my mandate, the Charter of the United Nations and the principles and values of the United Nations, and with the sole objective of contributing to the promotion and protection of human rights, without seeking or accepting instructions from any Government or any other source. I also undertake to respect, during the tenure of my mandate and subsequently, the confidentiality of all information made available to me in my capacity as a member of the commission of inquiry/fact-finding mission. Additionally, I agree to comply with the United Nations ethical, personal conduct, administrative and security rules and policies.” B. The secretariat 1. ROLE AND STANDARDS Commissions/missions operate with the support of a secretariat. The size and composition of the secretariat will depend on a number of factors, including the mandate and composition of the commission/mission, the nature and scope of the inquiry and the time frame. The secretariat will assist the commission/mission from its establishment to the presentation of the report by providing substantive and technical expertise and support. It will continue to function for some time even after the formal work of the commission/ mission has been completed, to ensure finalization of archiving of documentation and the most immediate follow-up actions. Secretariat staff are appointed or recruited according to United Nations rules and procedures. For commissions/missions supported by OHCHR, the coordinator and other staff of the secretariat are selected by the High Commissioner. All expertise required to fulfil the commission’s/mission’s mandate must be provided for in the secretariat, or secured by the latter through arrangements in keeping with United Nations rules. To ensure the integrity and independence of the commission/mission, staff as well as consultants or contractors that may be required to assist the commission/mission in fulfilling its mandate must be hired through United Nations contracts. In selecting staff, 22 COMMISSIONS OF INQUIRY AND FACT-FINDING MISSIONS ON INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMANITARIAN LAW