A/HRC/27/21 been that women providing statements speak more often about the victimization of others, particularly family members,26 and may leave out the stories of their own suffering. In South Africa, statement takers reminded women not to forget “to tell us what happened to you”.27 Requests to provide information to the commission anonymously should also be given serious consideration, as that may allow persons to speak about sexual abuse when they otherwise may not. Commissions should establish procedures to guarantee anonymity in appropriate cases.28 27. In some circumstances, alternative approaches to gather information about women’s experiences in a conflict may be necessary. In Timor-Leste, where the number of women who came forward was much lower than expected, the gender unit commissioned 200 indepth oral histories to supplement the commission’s understanding of women’s experiences. In Liberia, the United Nations Development Fund for Women organized peer meetings in affected communities, where women could share their experiences and have them transmitted to the Commission, rather than testifying in person. 28. Creating an enabling environment in the context of public hearings is also important. The Sierra Leonean commission held dedicated women’s hearings, and funded women’s groups to support those women who came before the commission. Women were given the options of testifying in camera, speaking in public from behind a screen or speaking openly to the audience.29 29. Addressing gender-based and sexual violence within a truth commission can also lay the foundation for recommendations regarding institutional and legislative reform in order to address an entrenched culture of discrimination. B. International commissions of inquiry 30. Given the important role that international commissions of inquiry and similar investigatory bodies play in laying the foundation for transitional justice processes, a dedicated focus on gender-based and sexual violence by such commissions can bring about gender-sensitive truth, justice and redress measures. In recent years, there have been increasing efforts to ensure that gender-based and sexual violence is adequately addressed in the work of international commissions of inquiry. All such commissions and related investigative bodies established by the United Nations now include dedicated investigators specialized in the area of gender-based and sexual violence, with many recent international commissions of inquiry supported by UN-Women. 31. Recent commissions of inquiry, including on the Syrian Arab Republic,30 Libya,31 and Guinea,32 have increasingly devoted attention in their work and reports to the issue of to sexual violence. The report of the commission of inquiry on the Democratic People’s 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 Ruth Rubio-Marín, ed., What Happened to the Women? Gender and Reparations for Human Rights Violations (2006), p. 28; Nesiah and others, Truth Commissions, p. 17. Beth Goldblatt, “Evaluating the gender content of reparations: lessons from South Africa”, in RubioMarín, What Happened to the Women?, p. 78. Updated set of principles for the protection and promotion of human rights through action to combat impunity (E/CN.4/2005/102/Add.1), principle 10 (d). Nowrojee, “Making the invisible visible”, p. 94. See A/HRC/S-17/2/Add.1, A/HRC/21/50, A/HRC/19/69, A/HRC/22/59, A/HRC/23/58, A/HRC/24/46, A/HRC/25/65. See A/HRC/19/68. See S/2009/693. 9