Information collected during an investigation and not included in public reporting is generally to be kept confidential. As noted, sharing information about individuals who are allegedly responsible for crimes or violations can affect core human rights, such as those concerning privacy and the presumption of innocence. Another limit on sharing is that information collected during a United Nations investigation belongs to the United Nations, and may be disclosed only in conformity with United Nations protocols, including those applicable to sensitive and classified information.113 Those limitations notwithstanding, this guidance presumes that information collected on responsible individuals is to be put to the best use(s) possible.114 The following text sets out the approaches taken to information sharing, including when responding to requests for information from external entities, and considerations for investigations seeking proactively to place pertinent information in the hands of entities that can use it to advance accountability. A. Preliminary considerations For the reasons set out above, investigative bodies must proceed carefully if considering disclosure. Both the positive and negative ramifications for released information are potentially serious and far-reaching: · For the victims, witnesses and sources whose accounts contributed to the identification: - They may eventually see that justice is being done, or at least moving forward; - They, or their family members or associates, may also be the subject of reprisals or otherwise have their lives or security at risk; - Victims, witnesses and sources can themselves, potentially, be implicated in crimes or violations; · For the alleged perpetrators, identified by the investigative body: - They may face legal consequences, such as being arrested and tried; - They may also be ostracized, or face purges, torture or even extra-judicial execution, depending on their circumstances – even if innocent of the accusation; Applicable rules include the Secretary-General’s bulletins on record-keeping and the management of United Nations archives (ST/SGB/2007/5), and on information sensitivity, classification and handling (ST/SGB/2007/6). 114 See section 2 B, supra, where a number of potential uses of perpetrator information are described. 113 72 ATTRIBUTING INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY