A/HRC/12/18 page 5 B. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 4. During the past decade, OHCHR has actively supported transitional justice programmes in more than 20 countries around the world. OHCHR support includes ensuring that human rights and transitional justice considerations are reflected in peace agreements; engaging in the design and implementation of inclusive national consultations on transitional justice mechanisms; supporting the establishment of truth-seeking processes, judicial accountability mechanisms and reparations programmes; and enhancing institutional reform. OHCHR provides dedicated transitional justice programmes at the country level; conceptual and policy support at headquarters; and partnerships with multiple actors, including national authorities, national human rights institutions, civil society and other United Nations departments and agencies. 5. The Secretary-General’s decision on the rule of law in November 2006 designated OHCHR as the lead entity within the United Nations system in the area of transitional justice (see A/61/636-S/2006/980).2 As such, OHCHR is responsible for policy development, standard-setting, substantive guidance, capacity-building, and coordination with actors within and outside the United Nations system on transitional justice issues. In resolution 9/10, the Human Rights Council requested OHCHR “to continue to enhance its leading role, including with regard to conceptual and analytical work regarding transitional justice, and to assist States to design, establish and implement transitional justice mechanisms from a human rights perspective”. 6. OHCHR has produced a series of publications, Rule of Law Tools for Post-Conflict States, to develop the long-term institutional capacity of United Nations field presences, transitional administrations and civil society to respond to transitional justice demands. These tools are grounded in international human rights law and contain lessons learned and best practices from United Nations field operations with regard to truth commissions, prosecution initiatives, maximizing the legacy of hybrid tribunals, vetting, reparations programmes, mapping the justice sector, legal systems monitoring and amnesties. OHCHR will finalize Rule of Law Tools: National consultations and Rule of Law Tools: Archives in 2009.3 7. OHCHR continues to explore and develop additional areas related to transitional justice, taking into account the needs of field presences and emerging international legal developments. The Expert Seminar was attended by academics, practitioners, and representatives of OHCHR field presences and other United Nations agencies. It provided a forum for presenting recent conceptual developments, sharing the experiences of OHCHR field presences, and discussing 2 This includes national consultative processes, truth and reconciliation mechanisms, reparations, vetting processes, ad hoc investigations, and fact-finding and commissions of inquiry. OHCHR co-leads, with the Office of Legal Affairs, on international and hybrid tribunals. 3 Series available online at http://www.ohchr.org/EN/PublicationsResources/Pages/ SpecialIssues.aspx.