A/HRC/45/CRP.11 investigations for the purposes of ensuring accountability for crimes and other violations, in line with international law standards. Access will only be granted to the extent that witnesses or other sources of information have given their informed consent and protection concerns are addressed. 19. In all of its work, the Mission abided strictly by its obligation to “do no harm”. The Mission also took into account ethical and protection considerations, including measures for protecting privacy and personal data as well as measures for minimizing any risk of harm to victims, sources, organizations and third parties that could occur from the use of the information. In order to help ensure the safety and security of witnesses and victims, including from reprisals for cooperation with the mission, a risk-assessment was carried out at various points to evaluate potential threats. 20. The Mission ensured it had the informed consent from each person it interviewed before using any information provided. For reasons of witness protection, some individual names have not been included in the present report or are reflected using a code system developed by the Mission. These names are retained on a strictly confidential basis by OHCHR. 21. In line with best practices of integration of a gender perspective, throughout its investigation, the Mission devoted specific attention to gendered issues and impacts of violations and strove to implement a gender approach, using gender-sensitive methodologies and tools for collecting, organizing, analyzing and reflecting information in the present report. B. Legal Framework 22. The facts documented by the Mission were assessed in light of international human rights law and international criminal law, as applicable in Venezuela. The Mission also considered the human rights guarantees under Venezuelan domestic law, as well as aspects of national legislation and organic laws of Venezuelan security forces, where appropriate. International Human Rights Law 23. Venezuela is bound by the United Nations Charter and has committed to respect internationally recognized human rights. Venezuela’s international human rights obligations are provided by treaties ratified by Venezuela. Guidance on the content and scope of these obligations can also be drawn by reference to various instruments of soft law. 24. As of August 2020, Venezuela is a party to all core United Nations human rights treaties3, except the Convention on Enforced Disappearances (ICED) and the Optional 3 International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, 10 October 1967; International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 10 May 1978; International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 10 May 1978; Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, 2 May 1983; Convention on the Rights of the Child, 13 September 1990; Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 29 July 1991; International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, 25 October 2016; Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 24 September 2013. Venezuela is also a party to: First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which establishes an individual complaints mechanism, 10 May 1978; Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming to abolish the death penalty, 22 February 1993; Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women concerning individual complaints and inquiry procedures, 13 May 2002; Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, concerning individual complaints and inquiry procedures, 10 October 2018; Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, 8 May 2002; Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, 23 September 2003; Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 24 September 2013. It is not a party to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure. 5