There are four Commissions of Inquiry established by the Human Rights Council and two investigations currently being carried out by the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights in response to Council requests.
Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea
This Commission of Inquiry was established by the Human Rights Council in June 2014 to investigate all alleged violations of human rights in Eritrea. It presented its first report to the Council in June 2015. The commission “found that systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations have been and are being committed in Eritrea under the authority of the Government.” It found that some of these violations may constitute crimes against humanity.
The Council has extended the mandate of the Commission to June 2016 to continue to investigate gross human rights violations with the core of its work to focus on the investigation and documentation of possible crimes against humanity. Additional information on the Commisson of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea is available here.
Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
This Commission of Inquiry was eestablished by the Human Rights Council in March 2013 “to investigate the systematic, widespread and grave violations of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, with a view to ensuring full accountability, in particular for violations which may amount to crimes against humanity.” It presented its first report to the Council in February 2014. The commission found that “systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations have been and are being committed by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. In many instances, the violations found entailed crimes against humanity based on State policies.” Additional information on the Commisson of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is available from OHCHR.
Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syria Arab Republic
This Commission of Inquiry was established by the Human Rights Council in August 2011 “to investigate all alleged violations of international human rights law since March 2011 in the Syrian Arab Republic.” The Commission was also tasked “to establish the facts and circumstances that may amount to such violations and of the crimes perpetrated and, where possible, to identify those responsible with a view to ensuring that perpetrators of violations, including those that may constitute crimes against humanity, are held accountable.” It presented its tenth report to the Council in September 2015. The report found that war crimes and crimes against humanity were rampant with numerous violations of human rights and international humanitarian law “identified through the pain and suffering of key groups, communities and individuals.” Additional information on the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syria Arab Republic is available from OHCHR.
Independent Commission of Inquiry on the 2014 Gaza Conflict
This Commission of Inquiry was established by the Human Rights Council in July 2014 “to investigate all violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, particularly in the occupied Gaza Strip, in the context of the military operations conducted since 13 June 2014.”
In its report to the Council in June 2015, the Commission was critical of both Israel and Palestinian armed groups, finding credible allegations of war crimes by both sides in the conflict. Additional information on the Independent Commission of Inquiry on the 2014 Gaza Conflict is available here.
OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka
In March 2014, the Human Rights Council requested the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights “to undertake a comprehensive investigation into alleged serious violations and abuses of human rights and related crimes by both parties in Sri Lanka” during the period from 21 February 2002 until 15 November 2011.
In its report released in September 2015, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights found that there “are reasonable grounds to believe that gross violations of international human rights law, serious violations of international humanitarian law and international crimes were committed by all parties during the period under review” and that many of the allegations if established before a court of law may constitute war crimes. Additional information regarding the OHCHR investigation on Sri Lanka is available here.
In March 2015, the Human Rights Council requested the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to urgently dispatch “a mission to investigate violations and abuses of international human rights law that have been committed in Libya since the beginning of 2014, and to establish the facts and circumstances of such abuses and violations, with a view to avoiding impunity and ensuring full accountability, in coordination with the United Nations Support Mission in Libya.” The Council requested that the High Commissioner “provide an oral update at its 30th session (September 2015), and a written report on the findings of the investigation at its 31st session (March 2016). The report is also to contain an update on technical assistance, capacity-building and cooperation with the Government of Libya, with recommendations for future capacity-building needs that include but are not limited to the justice system and accountability.” Additional information regarding the OHCHR investigation on Libya is available here.