A/HRC/3/2 page 14 I. INTRODUCTION A. The Commission of Inquiry 1. Establishment and role 1. On 11 August 2006, the Human Rights Council convened a second special session, in order to address the ongoing conflict in Lebanon. At this session the Council adopted resolution S-2/1,1 entitled “The grave situation of human rights in Lebanon caused by Israeli military operations”, in which it decided to “establish urgently and immediately dispatch a high-level commission of inquiry”. 2. The mandate of the Commission, according to paragraph 7 of resolution S-2/1, is: “(a) Lebanon; To investigate the systematic targeting and killings of civilians by Israel in (b) To examine the types of weapons used by Israel and their conformity with international law; and (c) To assess the extent and deadly impact of Israeli attacks on human life, property, critical infrastructure and the environment.” 3. The resolution also urged all concerned parties to respect the rules of international humanitarian law, to refrain from violence against the civilian population, and to treat detained combatants and civilians in accordance with the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949. 4. On 1 September 2006, the President of the Human Rights Council, Luis Alfonso de Alba, announced the nomination of João Clemente Baena Soares (Brazil), Mohamed Chande Othman (United Republic of Tanzania) and Stelios Perrakis (Greece) as members of the Commission of Inquiry. The members were appointed on the basis of their expertise in international humanitarian law and human rights law. 5. In resolution S-2/1 the Council also requested the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide all administrative, technical and logistical assistance required to enable the Commission of Inquiry (hereafter “the Commission”) to fulfil its mandate promptly and efficiently. By 11 September 2006, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) completed the establishment of a secretariat for the Commission headed by a Secretary and including three human rights officers and a military analyst, as well as security, logistical and administrative staff, with offices in Geneva and Beirut. 6. The Commission assembled in Geneva, together with its secretariat, and began its work on 11 September. It adopted terms of reference on 19 September 2006 and agreed to report to the Council within two months of the commencement of its work. 7. The Commission’s terms of reference2 specified, inter alia, that the Commission should enjoy the full cooperation of all States Members of the United Nations, and that it may also seek