• The background paper should:
– provide an overview of the situation to be addressed
– outline the international human rights law that is relevant to the situation
– outline the domestic or local law that is relevant to the situation
– list the particular matters requiring investigation during the course of the inquiry
– indicate some options for the results of the inquiry
– describe how the inquiry will meet its human rights education objectives
– set out the timetable for the conduct of the inquiry
– state the resource requirements
– summarise briefly the views of NGOs and other relevant stakeholders concerning the inquiry.
Chapter 5: Identify, consult and engage stakeholders
• The expertise and experience of stakeholders are essential for the inquiry’s success.
• Important stakeholders may include victims of the human rights situation under investigation and
members of their families, Government officials, NGOs, academics and professionals, religious
groups and foundations and other organisations, as well as alleged and potential perpetrators.
• Stakeholders could have many views about the national inquiry, ranging from very supportive to
very hostile.
• The national inquiry will need to use a variety of strategies to engage the stakeholders it needs
to engage.
Chapter 6: Draft objectives and the terms of reference
• A national inquiry requires clear objectives and good terms of reference.
• Objectives relate to what the NHRI aims to accomplish through the national inquiry.
• Terms of reference set out what the inquiry will actually examine and report on.
Chapter 7: Appoint Inquiry Commissioners and staff
• Every national inquiry needs the right team, with the right mix of skills and experience to make the
inquiry successful. The team will include Inquiry Commissioners and staff.
• The Inquiry Commissioners are the internal drivers and the external face of the inquiry. They
collectively lead the whole inquiry team, with the chairperson of the inquiry individually leading the
inquiry members.
• In some cases it may be necessary to appoint a highly qualified and widely respected “special
adviser”.
• The inquiry staff need expertise in administration and management, research and writing,
community liaison and relations, and media liaison and communications.
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