A/HRC/18/23 B. Activities of field presences 1. Truth-seeking 9. Truth-seeking processes help post-conflict States to investigate past human rights violations. The right of individuals to know the truth about these violations is supported by several treaty bodies, regional courts, and international tribunals.6 Truth-seeking processes are undertaken by truth commissions, commissions of inquiry or other fact-finding mechanisms.7 Truth commissions are non-judicial investigative bodies which map patterns of past violence, and unearth the causes and consequences of these destructive events. Commissions of inquiry and other fact-finding mechanisms similarly seek to unravel the truth behind allegations of past human rights abuses, but operate under more narrowly defined mandates. Each truth commission is a unique institution, designed within a specific societal context, and should be founded on national consultations inclusive of victims and civil society organizations. OHCHR assists in the design and establishment of truth commissions, including by sharing applicable standards and best practices. OHCHR also supports the work of commissions of inquiry and undertakes fact-finding missions. (a) Africa 10. In October 2010, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights released the report of the Mapping exercise documenting the most serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed within the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo between March 1993 and June 2003. The report also formulates options for appropriate transitional justice mechanisms to deal with the legacy of these violations in terms of truth, justice, reparation and reform. In follow up, the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in October 2010, announced the creation of specialized chambers and prepared a draft law for consideration by Parliament. In March 2011, OHCHR held meetings with the national authorities and other stakeholders regarding the follow-up to the mapping exercise report, and shared recommendations on the draft law. 11. The Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) of Kenya was established by law in November 2008 and inaugurated in July 2009. The TJRC has been experiencing operational difficulties since its inception. Despite the difficulties, OHCHR Kenya has been providing technical support to the TJRC, including assisting the Ministry of Justice in organizing induction training for commissioners, as well as training on transitional justice for technical staff, authorities and civil society. OHCHR Kenya also provided technical expertise and funding towards the creation of a database for the TJRC. 12. In December 2009, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in Liberia released its final report, but only a few of its recommendations have been implemented so far. The Human Rights and Protection Section (HRPS) of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) encouraged civil society organizations to inform the public about the content of the report through a program funded by UNDP and advocated for the establishment of the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR). INCHR was officially established in October 2010, and tasked, inter alia, with ensuring the implementation of the TRC recommendations. 13. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Sierra Leone presented a report summarizing its findings and outlining recommendations in October 2004. The Human Rights Section (HRS) of successive peacekeeping and peace consolidation missions in 6 7 6 See E/CN.4/2004/88; E/CN.4/2006/91. See E/CN.4/2005/102/Add.1, principles 6-13.