A/HRC/19/61 Commission of Inquiry into the Actions of Canadian Officials in Relation to Maher Arar, in Canada (also referred to as the Arar Commission). 42. The Gibson Inquiry was established to examine whether and to what extent State security and intelligence agencies were involved or otherwise complicit in the improper treatment or rendition of detainees held by other States in counter-terrorism operations in the aftermath of the attacks of 11 September 2001. Some non-governmental organizations have criticized the inquiry for its lack of transparency and lack of opportunities for the participation of victims and other third parties.24 43. The Arar Commission was established to investigate the detention in 2002 of Maher Arar while in transit through New York and his subsequent rendition to the Syrian Arab Republic, where he was subjected to torture. In its report, the Commission acknowledged the wrongs perpetrated against Mr. Arar and recommended possible remedies; it also reviewed the policies and activities of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and made recommendations on information-sharing and oversight mechanisms for national security agencies, including specific directives aimed at ensuring accountability and preventing any possible future complicity in torture. 44. During county visits undertaken by the mandate holder, reports of torture from national sources, such as official commission of inquiry, have been analysed in an effort to corroborate allegations of torture and other forms of ill-treatment. 25 In May 2011, the Special Rapporteur conducted a visit to Tunisia to engage with the interim Government to examine the violations committed by the previous regime, assess the violations committed in the interim period under the transitional Government and identify measures to be implemented to prevent torture and other forms of ill-treatment in the future. In his report thereon (A/HRC/19/61/Add.1), the Special Rapporteur refers to the “national commission to establish the facts of abuses and violations from 17 December until the elimination of the cause”, and recommends improvement of the fact-finding commission’s methodology, particularly with regard to measures that could be taken to best preserve evidence gathered. 45. In response to international pressure, the President of Kyrgyzstan, after consultations with the European Union, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, established a commission of inquiry into the events in southern Kyrgyzstan. The Special Rapporteur will take note of these findings in his forthcoming report on Kyrgyzstan, following his visit in December 2011. He will also take note of the Government’s response when formulating his own recommendations, which will include an examination of the events of June 2010 in Osh and surrounding provinces, in addition to other issues within the scope of his mandate. 46. In Bahrain, a commission of inquiry was established pursuant to Royal Order No. 28 in response to the events of February and March 2011 and thereafter, to investigate alleged international human rights violations and propose recommendations. In response to the Commission’s report, published in November 2011, the Government engaged in a consultation process with relevant actors in order to implement the recommendations, including an examination of all complaints of torture and other forms of ill-treatment. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the opportunity to follow up on the Commission’s report, within the scope of his mandate, and to contribute further to the reform process during his official visit to Bahrain in March 2012. 24 25 12 See for example the joint letter addressed to the Detainee Inquiry, 3 August 2011. Available from www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/EUR45/010/2011/en/daf5cd13-dea8-47d2-99d26628b963f511/eur450102011en.pdf. See E/CN.4/1997/7, annex.