Introduction BACKGROUND Human rights monitoring and human rights investigations are a central aspect of the response provided by the United Nations to human rights violations, identifying the causes of human rights concerns and developing possible solutions, promoting accountability and deterring further human rights violations. Monitoring and investigative functions are a core aspect of the protection mandate of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and a function of most human rights field presences established under its mandate or as part of peace operations, mandated by the Security Council and overseen, managed and supported by OHCHR.9 These functions are also carried out by international commissions of inquiry (CoIs), fact-finding missions (FFMs) or other investigative bodies.10 CoIs/FFMs are temporary bodies of a non-judicial nature, established by intergovernmental bodies,11 the Secretary-General or the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, with the task to investigate allegations of violations of international human rights law (IHRL), international humanitarian law (IHL) or international criminal law, as relevant, and make recommendations for corrective actions based on their factual and legal findings. United Nations human rights mechanisms, such as certain treaty bodies, also carry out inquiries as part of their mandate as set out in international human rights treaties, if they have received reliable information containing well-founded indications of serious or systematic violations.12 Regional human rights mechanisms of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights or the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights also perform monitoring and investigative functions. Some non-governmental organizations or civil society also carry out investigations, monitor and report on human rights violations and concerns. OHCHR is mandated to contribute to the realization of all human rights for all people, which includes non-discrimination on the basis of sex as a fundamental principle of human rights law. On that basis, in 2011, OHCHR adopted its Gender Equality Policy, which provides internal guidance on how the Office aims to integrate a gender perspective and women’s human rights throughout policy formulation, programme development and activity implementation, including in the context of its monitoring and investigative work.13 Moreover, CoIs/FFMs are OHCHR, Manual on Human Rights Monitoring (2011), Foreword, p. iii. 9 This publication will refer to CoIs/FFMs as a generic term. It should be noted, however, that some investigative bodies are not necessarily strictly identified by these terms, while their mandates have generally similar investigative functions. 10 These can include the Human Rights Council, the Security Council and the General Assembly. 11 See OHCHR, “Human rights bodies – complaints procedures”. 12 OHCHR, Gender Equality Policy (2011). 13 10