Preparations for the Mission • • Religion(s) Who does what in the country? Information on relevant work of UN agencies, non governmental organisations (NGOs), professional organisations such as national medical associations, bar associations, etc. • Diplomatic missions of team members home countries, and European Commission (EC) delegations • Infrastructure • Relevant legal issues • The legal and institutional frameworks that apply in the country and region visited; these will frame the conditions of access to examinees (e.g. authorization, informed consent), confidentiality, subpoenas, witness obligations, etc. • The legal procedures and possible obstacles to justice for victims of human rights violations; this information may assist the team to better appreciate how the legal process can affect the well-being and psychological condition of the victim in addition to the torture • Requirements for the local juridical process, such as standard procedures, chain of custody, standards of proof for medical evidence, etc. • Availability of competent local legal assistance in case of misunderstandings or conflicts with the local authorities The human rights situation • Relevant reports from local and international human rights organisations • Available reports from the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, the United Nations treaty bodies (e.g. the Committee against Torture, the Subcommittee on Preventing Torture (SPT), the Human Rights Committee), the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment and Punishment (CPT), or the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) • • 18 Status of international conventions, such as the ratification of the UNCAT and Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) Previous, on-going or planned investigations and the contact persons for these Possible role/impact/outcome of the mission in the local context Health situation in the country • Information on communicable diseases (see also 5d) • Availability of medical specialists such as orthopaedics, psychiatrists, gynaecologists • Availability of and access to medical diagnostic tests