On 18 May 2018, the Human Rights Council adopted a resolution (S-28/1) in which it decided to urgently dispatch an independent, international commission of inquiry to investigate all alleged violations and abuses of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), including East Jerusalem, particularly in the occupied Gaza Strip, in the context of the military assaults on the large-scale civilian protests that began on 30 March 2018, and to report to the Council at its fortieth session in March 2019.
MandateThe resolution requested the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to assist to enable the commission of inquiry to fulfil its mandate to:"investigate all alleged violations and abuses of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), including East Jerusalem, particularly in the occupied Gaza Strip, in the context of the military assaults on the large-scale civilian protests that began on 30 March 2018, whether before, during or after;to establish the facts and circumstances, with assistance from relevant experts and special procedure mandate holders, of the alleged violations and abuses, including those that may amount to war crimes;to identify those responsible;to make recommendations, in particular on accountability measures, all with a view to avoiding and ending impunity and ensuring legal accountability, including individual criminal and command responsibility, for such violations and abuses, and on protecting civilians against any further assaults;and to present an oral update thereon to the Council at its thirty-ninth session (September 2018) and a final, written report at its fortieth session (March 2019)."The Commission of Inquiry will report to the Human Rights Council in March 2019.In order to implement its mandate, the Commission intends to conduct travel to the region, meet with witnesses and victims, as well as gather information from a wide variety of sources. The Commissioners will also be accompanied by a team of professional investigators and analysts.
Call for SubmissionsThe Commission invites individuals, groups and organizations to submit information and documentation related to its mandate. In particular, the Commission would welcome information concerning:Facts and circumstances regarding alleged violations and abuses;Identification of those responsible;Recommendations on accountability measures, with a view to avoiding and ending impunity and ensuring legal accountability, including individual criminal and command responsibility; andRecommendations on protecting civilians.The Commission of Inquiry invites individuals, groups and organizations to submit information and documentation related to its mandate.Procedure for submissions:Submissions should be sent no later than 31 October 2018 in a written form and must include the contact details for the author(s) of the submission.Submissions may be sent: By email to: coioptprotests@ohchr.orgBy post to: The United Nations Commission of Inquiry on the 2018 protests in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Palais de Nations, CH-1211 Geneva, SwitzerlandPlease indicate whether the submission, or any part of it, should be treated confidentially.The Commission of Inquiry encourages contributors to submit information in English, French, Arabic and/or Hebrew.
MembersThe Commission is composed of:Mr. Santiago Canton (Argentina), ChairMs. Sara Hossain (Bangladesh)Ms. Kaari Betty Murungi (Kenya)Former MembersMr. David Michael Crane (United States of America)
