the occupied Palestinian territory,14 the Syrian Arab Republic,15 the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,16 Sri Lanka17 and the Central African Republic.18 As part of its core work, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) provides expertise and support to commissions and missions. This includes developing guidance, advising on investigation methodology and applicable international law, developing investigation tools, setting up secretariats with specialist staff, providing administrative, logistical and security support, undertaking reviews and lessons learned exercises. Since 1992, OHCHR has provided support to and deployed close to 50 commissions and missions. In 2014, it provided support to the International Commission of Inquiry on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Commission of Inquiry on the Central African Republic and, before the establishment of the Commission by the Security Council, deployed an OHCHR fact-finding mission to the Central African Republic. In addition, it is providing support to the International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, the Commission of Inquiry on the occupied Palestinian territory and the Commission of Inquiry on Eritrea, is carrying out an investigation on Sri Lanka, and is in the process of deploying a fact-finding mission to Iraq. Consequently, OHCHR serves as the repository of institutional memory with regard to the establishment and operation of such bodies. 1. OBJECTIVE This publication provides policy, methodological, legal and operational guidance based on relevant international standards and two decades of experience by OHCHR in advising, supporting, deploying and reviewing international commissions of inquiry and fact-finding missions. It is intended to assist the work of such international investigative bodies, and those establishing and mandating them, in applying a consistent methodology based on best practice and maximizing their potential to successfully fulfil their mandates. This guidance is provided with the understanding that every United Nations investigative body is different. The mandate, the situation of inquiry, the independent commissioners 14 International Fact-Finding Mission on Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (2012), established by the Human Rights Council under resolution 19/17 of 22 March 2012. 15 Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic (2011-2014), established by Human Rights Council resolution S-17/1 of 23 August 2011; preceded by the Fact-finding Mission to the Syrian Arab Republic (2011) established by the High Commissioner for Human Rights pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution S-16/1 of 29 April 2011. 16 Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (2013), established by the Human Rights Council in resolution 22/13 of 21 March 2013. 17 OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka (2014), established by the Human Rights Council in resolution 15/1 of 27 March 2014. 18 International Commission of Inquiry on the Central African Republic established by Security Council resolution 2127 (2013) of 5 December 2013. GUIDANCE AND PRACTICE 3