The collective experience distilled here is intended primarily for investigations undertaking – or considering whether to undertake – such identification and seeking to understand the legal, policy and practical considerations involved. The content has benefited from experiences collected from members and staff of human rights investigations, from lessons-learned exercises and from canvassing the views of a range of experts who approach the identification of alleged perpetrators from their unique perspectives. I am confident that this text will be of significant use to future human rights investigations and mandating bodies, and also to the many other individuals and organizations involved in furthering the accountability imperative. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (2015-2018), briefs the Security Council on the human rights situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. UN Photo / Amanda Voisard 8 ATTRIBUTING INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY