International Commissions of Inquiry, Fact-finding Missions: Asia and Pacific

UN Secretary-General

UN Secretary-General decided to dispatch a fact-finding mission to investigate the situation of human rights violations in Abkhazia, including reports of "ethnic cleansing." (S/26795)

Security Council demands that all parties refrain from the use of force and from any violations of international humanitarian law, and welcomes the decision of the Secretary-General to send a fact-finding mission to the Republic of Georgia in this regard, in particular to investigate reports of "ethnic cleansing" (Security Council resolution 876 (1993) of 19 Oct. 1993)

High Commissioner for Human Rights

General Assembly resolution 54/185 of 17 Dec. 1999

High Commissioner for Human Rights

OHCHR Exploratory mission to Afghanistan to determine the feasibility of an investigation into allegations of serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed in Afghanistan in the course of 1997 

Security Council resolution 1193 (1998) (of 28 Aug. 1998) requests the Secretary-General to continue investigations

General Assembly resolution 52/135 of 12 Dec. 1998

General Assembly requests the Secretary-General to examine the request by the Cambodian authorities for assistance in responding to past serious violations of Cambodian and international law, including the possibility of the appointment, by the Secretary-General, of a group of experts to evaluate the existing evidence and propose further measures, as a means of bringing about national reconciliation, strengthening democracy and addressing the issue of individual accountability (A/RES/52/1385).

In accordance with resolution 52/135, in July 1998, the Secretary-General created the Group of Experts for Cambod/ia with the following mandate: (a) To evaluate the existing evidence with a view to determining the nature of the crimes committed by Khmer Rouge leaders in the years from 1975 to 1979; (b) To assess, after consultation with the Governments concerned, the feasibility of bringing Khmer Rouge leaders to justice and their apprehension, detention and extradition or surrender to the criminal jurisdiction established; (c) To explore options for bringing to justice Khmer Rouge leaders before an international or national jurisdiction. (A/53/850)

Human Rights Council resolution 22/13 of 21 Mar. 2013 (in A/68/53, pp. 49-51)

Human Rights Council resolution S35/1 of 24 Nov. 2022

With the adoption of resolution S35/1 of 24 November 2022, the Human Rights Council provided the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran with the following mandate:

a. To thoroughly and independently investigate alleged human rights violations in the Islamic Republic of Iran related to the protests that began on 16 September 2022, especially with respect to women and children;
b. To establish the facts and circumstances surrounding the alleged violations;
c. To collect, consolidate and analyse evidence of such violations and preserve evidence, including in view of cooperation in any legal proceedings;
d. To engage with all relevant stakeholders, including the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, relevant United Nations entities, human rights organizations and civil society.

The Human Rights Council requested the Fact-Finding Mission to present an oral update to the Human Rights Council during an interactive dialogue at its fifty-third session (June/July 2023) and to present to the Council a comprehensive report on its findings during an interactive dialogue at its fifty-fifth session (March 2024).

See the Terms of Reference (English | Farsi) of the Fact-Finding Mission.

Press Releases
Iran: On one-year anniversary of Jina Mahsa Amini’s death in custody, heightened repression of women and girls and reprisals against protesters and victims’ families is deeply troubling, UN Fact-Finding Mission says
14 September 2023
English | Español | Farsi

Iran must end crackdown against protesters and uphold rights of all Iranians, especially women and girls, Fact-Finding Mission says
5 July 2023
English | Español | Farsi 

Statement by the Iran Fact-Finding Mission on the Executions of Protesters
19 May 2023
English | Farsi

President of Human Rights Council appoints members of investigative body on Iran
20 December 2022
English

Statements
Statement by FFM Chair Sara Hossain to the 53rd session of Human Rights Council
5 July 2023
English | Farsi

Documentation
Human Rights Council resolution S35/1: deteriorating situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, especially with respect to women and children
24 November 2022

Human Rights Council  resolution S-22/1 of 1 Sep. 2014 (in A/69/53/Add.1, pp. 7-9)

Human Rights Council resolution S-2/1 of 11 Aug. 2006 (in A/61/53, pp. 108-110)

Human Rights Council resolution 39/2 of 27 Sept. 2018

Human Rights Council decided to establish an ongoing independent mechanism to collect, consolidate, preserve and analyse evidence of the most serious international crimes and violations of international law committed in Myanmar since 2011, and to prepare files in order to facilitate and expedite fair and independent criminal proceedings, in accordance with international law standards, in national, regional or international courts or tribunals that have or may in the future have jurisdiction over these crimes, in accordance with international law;
Also decides that the mechanism shall:
(a) Be able to make use of the information collected by the fact-finding mission and continue to collect evidence;
(b) Have the capacity to document and verify relevant information and evidence, including through field engagement and by cooperating with other entities, as appropriate;
(c) Report on its main activities on an annual basis to the Human Rights Council as of its forty-second session and to the General Assembly as of its seventy-fourth session

Reports:

A/HRC/45/60 (7 July 2020)
A/HRC/42/66 (7 Aug. 2019)

Oral statements:

Statement by Mr. Nicholas Koumjian, Head of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (42nd session, 9 Sept. 2019)

Human Rights Council resolution 34/22 of 24 Mar. 2017, decision 36/115 of 29 Sept. 2017, resolution 39/2 of 27 Sept. 2018

Mandate

Resolution 39/2:
Human Rights Council decided to extend the mandate of the independent international fact-finding mission, established by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 34/22, until the new mechanism is operational to ensure that the large and continually increasing amount of evidence of human rights violations and abuses it has collected is fully documented, verified, consolidated and preserved in order for the material to be effectively shared, accessed and used by the mechanism, and requests the fact-finding mission to submit a final report on its main activities to the Council at its forty-second session.

Resolution 34/22:
Human Rights Council decided to dispatch urgently an independent international fact-finding mission to be appointed by the President of the Human Rights Council to establish the facts and circumstances of the alleged recent human rights violations by military and security forces, and abuses, in Myanmar, in particular in Rakhine State, including but not limited to arbitrary detention, torture and inhuman treatment, rape and other forms of sexual violence, extrajudicial,  summary  or  arbitrary killings,  enforced  disappearance,  forced  displacement and unlawful  destruction  of  property,  with  a  view  to  ensuring full  accountability  for perpetrators and justice  for victims, and requests the fact-finding mission  to present to the Council an  oral  update at  its  thirty-sixth  session and  a  full  report  at its  thirty-seventh session

Decision 36/115:
Human Rights Council decided to extend the mandate of the independent international fact-finding mission, and to request it to present an oral update, to be followed by an interactive dialogue with the Human Rights Council at its thirty-seventh session, to submit its final report for consideration by the Council at its thirty-ninth session, to be followed by an interactive dialogue, and to present that report also to the General Assembly at its seventy-third session

Resolution 39/2:
Human Rights Council decided to extend the mandate of the independent international fact-finding mission, established by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 34/22, until the new mechanism is operational to ensure that the large and continually increasing amount of evidence of human rights violations and abuses it has collected is fully documented, verified, consolidated and preserved in order for the material to be effectively shared, accessed and used by the mechanism, and requests the fact-finding mission to submit a final report on its main activities to the Council at its forty-second session.

Reports:

A/HRC/42/CRP/3 (5 Aug. 2019) - Economic interests of the Myanmar military

A/HRC/39/64 (24 Aug. 2018)

Oral statements:

Statement by the Chairperson at the Human Rights Council (24 Oct 2018)
Statement by the Chairperson to the General Assembly (23 Oct 2018)
Statement by the Chairperson at the 39th session of the Human Rights Council (18 Sep 2018)
Statement by the Chairperson at the 37th session of the Human Rights Council (12 Mar 2018)
Statement by the Chairperson to the special session of the Human Rights Council (5 Dec. 2017)
Statement by the Chairperson presenting oral update to the Human Rights Council (19 Sep. 2017)

High Commissioner for Human Rights

High Commissioner for Human Rights

Human Rights Council resolution S-30/1 of 27 May 2021

Ms. Navy Pillay (South Africa), Mr. Miloon Kothari (India), Mr. Chris Sidoti (Australia)

Human Rights Council resolution S-28/1 of 18 May 2018

Mr. Santiago Canton (Argentina) Chair, Ms. Sara Hossain (Bangladesh), Ms. Kaari Betty Murungi (Kenya)

Former member:
Mr David Michael Cane (USA)

Report A/HRC/40/CPR.2 (18 Mar. 2019)
Statement at Human Rights Council, 39th session (24 September 2018)
Report A/HRC/40/74 (6 Mar. 2019)

Human Rights Council resolution S-21/1 of 23 July 2014 (in A/69/53, pp. 224-227)

Ms Mary McGowan Davis (United States of America), Chair; Mr. Doudou Diène (Senegal)

William Schabas (Canada) (former Commissioner, Chair; resigned 2 February 2015)

Human Rights Council resolution 19/17 of 22 Mar. 2012 (in A/67/53, pp. 50-53)

Human Rights Council resolutions 13/9 of 25 Mar. 2010 (in A/65/53, pp.101-103); 15/6 of 29 Sep. 2010 (in A/65/53/Add.1, pp. 24-27)

Human Rights Council decides, in the context of the follow-up to the report of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission, to establish a committee of independent experts in international humanitarian and human rights laws to monitor and assess any domestic, legal or other proceedings undertaken by both the Government of Israel and the Palestinian side, in the light of General Assembly resolution 64/254, including the independence, effectiveness, genuineness of these investigations and their conformity with international standards (resolution 13/9)

Human Rights Council decides to renew and resume the mandate of the Committee of independent experts, established pursuant to Council resolution 13/9 (resolution 15/6)

Mr. Christian TOMUSCHAT (Germany), Chair; Ms Mary McGowan DAVIS (USA), Mr. Param CUMARASWAMY (Malaysia) (under resolution 13/9)

Ms Mary McGowan DAVIS (USA) Chair; Mr. Lennart ASPEGREN (Sweden) (under resolution 15/6)

Reports A/HRC/15/50 of 23 Sep. 2010, A/HRC/16/24 of 5 May 2011

Human Rights Council resolution 14/1 of 2 June 2010 (in A/65/53, pp. 160-161)

Human Rights Council resolution S-9/1 of 12 Jan. 2009 (in A/64/53, pp. 153-156)

Human Rights Council resolution S-3/1 of 15 Nov. 2006 (in A/62/53, pp. 85-86)

Commission on Human Rights resolution S-5/1 of 19 Oct. 2000 (in E/2000/112, pp. 4-7)

Reports  and related documents

Security Council resolutions 446 (1979) of 22 Mar. 1979, 452(4979) of 20 July 1979, 465 (1980) of 1 Mar. 1980 

Reports S/13450 of 12 July 1979, S/13679 of 4 Dec. 1979, S/14268 of 25 Nov. 1980

Documents

Human Rights Council resolution 25/1 of 9 Apr. 2014 (in A/69/53, pp. 14-17)

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

* Three distinguished experts were invited by the High Commissioner to play a supportive and advisory role to the investigation:
   Mr. Martti Ahtisaari, (Finland), Ms. Silvia Cartwright (New Zealand), and Ms. Asma Jahangir (Pakistan)

Reports A/HRC/30/61 of 28 Sep. 2015 , A/HRC/30/CRP.2 (Advance version)

UN Secretary-General,SG/SM/12967 of 22 June 2010

Mr. Marzuki DARUSMAN (Indonesia) Chair, Ms. Yasmin SOOKA (South Africa), Mr. Steven R.RATNER (USA)

Human Rights Council resolutions 34/26 of 24 Mar 2017, 43/28 of 22 June 2020, 45/21 of 6 Oct. 2020

Mr. Paulo Sérgio PINHEIRO (Chairperson, Brazil), Ms. Karen Koning ABUZAYD (USA), Mr. Hanny Megally (Egypt)

Former commissioners:
Ms. Carla DEL PONTE (Switzerland), Mr. Vitit Muntarbhorn (Thailand), Ms. Yakin Erturk (Turkey) 

Reports:

A/HRC/46/55 - Detention  report (11 Mar. 2021), A/HRC/46/54 (28 Jan. 2020), A/HRC/45/31 (14 Aug. 2020), A/HRC/44/61 (3 Sept. 2020). A/HRC/43/57 (28 Jan. 2020), A/HRC/42/51 (15 Aug. 2019), A/HRC/40/70 (31 Jan 2019), A/HRC/39/65 (9 Aug 2018),  A/HRC/37/72 (1 Feb. 2018) A/HRC/36/55 of 8 Aug 2017, A/HRC/34/64 of 2 Feb 2017, A/HRC/33/55 of 11 Aug. 2016, A/HRC/31/68 of 22 Feb. 2016, A/HRC/30/48 of 13 Aug. 2015, A/HRC/28/69 of 5 Feb. 2015, A/HRC/27/60 of 13 Aug. 2014, A/HRC/25/65 of 12 Feb. 2014, A/HRC/24/46 of 16 Aug. 2013, A/HRC/23/58 of 18 July 2013, A/HRC/22/59 of 5 Feb. 2013, A/HRC/21/50 of 16 Aug. 2012, A/HRC/19/69 of 22 Feb. 2012, A/HRC/S-17/2/Add.1 of 23 Nov. 2011

Oral updates and conference room papers of the Commission:

A/HRC/38/CRP.3 (20 June 2018),  A/HRC/37/CRP.3 (8 Mar. 2018) A/HRC/34/CRP.3 (10 Mar. 2017),  A/HRC/32/CRP.2 of 16 June 2016 (Advance version), A/HRC/29/CRP.3 of 23 June 2015, Update of 17 Mar. 2015, A/HRC/27/CRP.3 of 19 Nov. 2014, A/HRC/27/CRP.1 of 16 Sept. 2014, A/HRC/26/CRP.2 of 16 June 2014, Oral update of 18 Mar. 2014, Conference room paper of 19 Dec. 2013, A/HRC/22/CRP.1 of 11 Mar. 2013, Periodic update of 20 Dec. 2012, A/HRC/24/CRP.2 of 13 Sept. 2012, A/HRC/20/CRP.1 of 26 June 2012, Periodic update of 24 May 2012, Update of 16 Apr. 2012

Chemical weapons' attacks documented by the Commission - Infographic (as of Sept. 2017)

Documents

Human Rights Council resolution S-25/1 of 21 Oct. 2016

Mr. Paulo Sérgio PINHEIRO (Chairperson, Brazil), Ms Karen Koning ABUZAYD (USA), Ms Carla DEL PONTE (Switzerland) (resigned: Press-release of 6 Aug. 2017)

See the current year for Syria

Human Rights Council resolution 31/17 of 23 Mar. 2016

See the current year for Syria

Human Rights Council resolution 28/20 of 27 Mar. 2015 (in A/70/53, pp. 13-17)

See the current year for Syria

Human Rights Council resolution 25/23 of 28 Mar. 2014 (in A/69/53, pp. 190-194)

Human Rights Council resolution 23/1 of 29 May 2013 (in A/68/53, pp. 122-123)

Human Rights Council resolution 22/24 of 22 Mar. 2013 (in A/68/53, pp. 76-81)

Human Rights Council resolution 21/26 of 28 Sep. 2012 (in A/67/53/Add.1, pp. 67-70)

Human Rights Council resolution 19/22 of 23 Mar. 2012 (in A/67/53, pp. 62-66)

Human Rights Council resolution S-17/1 of 23 Aug. 2011 (in A/66/53, pp. 29-31)

Human Rights Council resolution S-16/1 of 29 Apr. 2011 (in A/66/53, p. 27-29)

General Assembly resolution 71/248 of 21 Dec. 2016

UN Secretary-General upon request of Minister for Foreign Affairs of Timor-Leste, S/2006/383 
of 13 June 2006

Mr. Paulo Sérgio PINHEIRO (Brazil), Chair; Ms. Zelda HOLTZMAN (South Africa), Mr. Ralph ZACKLIN (UK)

Commission on Human Rights resolution S-4/1 of 27 Sep. 1999 (in E/1999/23/Add.1, pp. 4-8)

High Commissioner for Human Rights

General Assembly at the request of the Government of Vietnam A/PV.1239 of 11 Oct. 1963. See paragraphs 170-174 on page 18.

The President of the General Assembly made the following announcement to the General Assembly:

In accordance with the authorization given me by the General Assembly at its 1234th plenary meeting to act on the basis of the letterdated 4 October 1963 from the Head of the Special Mission of the Republic of Viet-Nam conveying the invitation of his Government to have the representatives of several Member States visit Viet-Nam in the near future, I have appointed a mission consisting of the representatives of the following Member States: Afghanistan, Brazil, Ceylon, Costa Rica, Dahomey, Morocco and Nepal

Human Rights Council resolution 36/31 of 29 Sept. 2017; mandate renewed by resolutions 39/16, 42/2, 45/15

Human Rights Council decided to renew the mandate of the Group of Eminent International and Regional Experts for a further period of one year, renewable as authorized by the Human Rights Council, as follows:
(a) To monitor and report on the situation of human rights, to carry out a comprehensive examination of all alleged violations and abuses of international human rights and other appropriate and applicable fields of international law committed by all parties to the conflict since September 2014, including the possible gender dimensions of such violations, and to establish the facts and circumstances surrounding the alleged violations and abuses and, where possible, to identify those responsible.
(b) To continue to make general recommendations on improving respect for and the protection and fulfilment of human rights, and to provide guidance on access to justice, accountability, reconciliation and healing, as appropriate;
(c) To engage with Yemeni authorities and all stakeholders, in particular relevant United Nations agencies, the field presence of the Office of the High Commissioner in Yemen, the authorities of the Gulf States and the League of Arab States, with a view to exchanging information and providing support for national, regional and international efforts to promote accountability for human rights violations and abuses in Yemen;
(d) To explore and report on recommended approaches and practical mechanisms of accountability to secure thuth, justice and redress for victims in coordination with relevant mandates of the special procedures of the Human Rights Council.

Conference room papers:
A/HRC/45/CRP.7 (29 Sept. 2020) - العربية | English
A/HRC/42/CRP.1 (3 Sept. 2019) 

Reports:
A/HRC/45/6 (28 Sept. 2020); 
A/HRC/42/17 (9 Aug. 2019); 
A/HRC/39/43 (17 Aug 2018)

Oral updates:
2021, 25 Feb. - العربية | English | Français