The mandate includes preventing human rights violations, securing respect for
all human rights, promoting international cooperation to protect human rights,
coordinating related activities throughout the United Nations, and
strengthening and streamlining United Nations human rights work. In addition
to its mandated responsibilities, it leads efforts to integrate a human rights
approach within all work carried out by the United Nations system.
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10 – Switzerland
Telephone: +41 (0) 22 917 90 00
Fax: +41 (0) 22 917 90 08
www.ohchr.org
COMMISSIONS OF INQUIRY AND FACT-FINDING MISSIONS ON INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMANITARIAN LAW • GUIDANCE AND PRACTICE
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
(OHCHR) is mandated to promote and protect the enjoyment and full
realization, by all people, of all rights established in international human rights
law. It is guided in its work by the mandate provided by the General Assembly
in resolution 48/141, the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and subsequent human rights instruments, the
Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action of the 1993 World Conference
on Human Rights, and the 2005 World Summit Outcome Document.
COMMISSIONS OF INQUIRY AND
FACT-FINDING MISSIONS ON
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS
AND HUMANITARIAN LAW
GUIDANCE AND PRACTICE