4 Preparations for the Mission The preparation of the mission is very important and may determine its success. A long-planned mission where arrangements are made far in advance would be optimal, but is often not the reality. The following deals with general preparations related to the mission. For more information on issues related to safety and security, see Chapter 5. information about the case, the available infrastructure, including the possibility of additional diagnostic tests. Ideally, time should be available for team members to communicate before the mission, especially if they are coming from different professional backgrounds and different parts of the world. The objectives of the examination should be clear to all involved. The obligations and responsibilities of the mission team, the contracting organisation and the local partners, as well as the time-frame, should be stated in the contract and the terms of reference (Annex 3). a. Local context and country information Annex I of the Istanbul Protocol describes the Principles on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment the responsibility of States to investigate allegations of torture within its jurisdiction.15 Team members should know who has invited them, on whose authority and in what capacity they will be working. Transparency is recommended, but in some cases this would not be an option, and teams will have to work with great discretion. Preparations are needed to understand the local context, to gain background Team members should orient themselves with general background information on the country, information on the human rights situation, relevant legal issues, the political, social and health situation in the country, and practical tips, prior to the mission. General background information • • • • • • Brief history of the country • Local culture, customs, norms and values, including gender issues Geography Language(s) Brief political background Security situation (see Chapter 5) General information on the population, distribution, ethnic groups 17