A/HRC/27/76 wished. Parties were invited to submit their input regarding the format, themes and expected results of such a conference by early September 2014, which would be reflected in a second round of consultations. Switzerland noted that the process would enable the High Contracting Parties to make a fully informed decision regarding any eventual reconvening of the conference of the High Contracting Parties. B. Establishment of the commission of inquiry 7. In resolution S-21/1, the Human Rights Council decided to urgently dispatch an independent, international commission of inquiry, to be appointed by the President of the Council, to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. The commission was mandated to, inter alia, investigate all violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, particularly in the occupied Gaza Strip, in the context of the military operations conducted since 13 June 2014, whether before, during or after, with a view to avoiding and ending impunity and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable, and on ways and means to protect civilians against any further assaults (para. 13). 8. On 11 and 25 August 2014, the President of the Human Rights Council appointed William Schabas (Canada) as Chair, and Doudou Diène (Senegal) and Mary McGowan Davis (United States of America) as members of the commission of inquiry.1 9. The commission of inquiry will be operational once its secretariat has been established. On 30 July 2014, OHCHR advertised seven temporary posts for that purpose, and recommendations of candidates for core posts were submitted to the High Commissioner during the last week of August and the first week of September. Several secretariat staff members have been selected. The commission convened its first meeting and held briefings in Geneva in September 2014. It will undertake approximately six weeks of field visits, starting as soon as possible, and return to Geneva for two weeks in March 2015 to finalize and submit its report to the Human Rights Council at its twenty-eight session. C. Activities of special procedures mandate holders 10. The Human Rights Council requested all relevant special procedures mandate holders to urgently seek and gather information on all human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem (resolution S-21/1, para. 12). 11. At the twenty-first special session of the Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 delivered a statement on behalf of the Coordination Committee of the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council.2 In the statement, the special procedures mandate holders urged prompt, independent and effective investigations into all allegations of violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, and offered the independent human rights expertise of the respective mandate holders to assist in the conduct of those investigations. The mandate holders also requested unhindered access to all affected areas and cooperation by the respective Governments of Israel and of the State of Palestine. 1 2 4 See www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=14934&LangID=E and http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/F3F05FA912746BB285257D3F0070BEFD. See text of statement at www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx? NewsID=14894&LangID=E.