A/HRC/15/33 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 28 July 2010 Original: English Human Rights Council Fifteenth session Agenda items 2 and 3 Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the Right to the truth* Summary This report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 12/12 of 12 October 2009 entitled “Right to the truth.” Section one of the report reviews various international legal provisions on States’ obligations to protect witnesses, victims and others concerned, and discusses relevant judicial practice and jurisprudence. Section two discusses various witness protection measures and programmes which are available at the international and national levels. Section three explains the key elements which are essential for establishing an effective witness protection programme, while good practices and relevant standards are discussed throughout the report. The conclusion of the report affirms that too few examples of witness protection programmes operating at the national level and relating to investigation and prosecution of gross violations of human rights or serious violations of international humanitarian law exist. The report recommends that States consider developing comprehensive witness protection programmes covering all types of crimes. However, witness protection within the framework of criminal procedures relating to gross human rights violations or serious violations of international humanitarian law requires certain particular elements. In that regard, the development of a normative framework based on existing legal obligations to enhance common standards and best practices may be useful. * Late submission. GE.10-15173 (E) 270810