A/HRC/17/44 to providing factual information about its visits. On 9 April 2011, the Chairperson of the Commission, together with the two other members held a press conference in Geneva about its mandate and the planned visit to Libya. On 3 May 2011, the Commission issued a press statement informing about its field missions. 7. The Commission endeavoured to establish direct contact with the Government of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and the National Transitional Council (NTC) as well as representatives of civil society and individuals throughout the country. The Commission gathered first-hand information with regard to the situation in Libya by conducting interviews with victims, community representatives, local authorities, members of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and experts, Government officials and United Nations officials during its meetings in Geneva, Libya, Egypt and Tunisia. In Libya, the Commission and/or members of the Secretariat visited Benghazi, Al-Bayda, Tobruk, Tripoli and Az-Zawiyah; in Egypt, Cairo, Marsa Matruh and As-Sallum; and, in Tunisia, Tunis, Djerba, Ras Adjir, Sfax, Sousse, Tataouine and Zarzis. Details of its programme can be found in annex I. The Commission is grateful for all the assistance provided in connection with its work, in particular by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, United Nations Children‟s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Department of Safety and Security, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), World Food Programme, and OHCHR staff for facilitation of the Commission‟s field missions. 8. The Commission adopted an inclusive approach to receiving information and views on matters within its mandate during both its field missions and other investigations. Particular information-gathering methods have included: (a) Interviews with victims, witnesses and other persons having relevant information. The Commission met with over 350 persons during its field missions. The interviews were conducted in person by members of the Commission and/or members of the Secretariat. In one case, the Commission was unable to conduct the meeting in person, but an interview took place by telephone. 3 These included meetings with: (i) 113 persons (doctors and other medical staff, patients and members of their families) in 10 hospitals (three in Cairo, one in Alexandria, two in Benghazi, one in Tataouine, two in Sfax and one in Sousse); (ii) 30 persons detained at two locations in Libya (Tripoli and Benghazi); (iii) 148 persons (individually or in groups) displaced either within Libya or in transit points or refugee camps outside Libya (one in Benghazi, one at Ramada, three at Ras Ajdir and one in As-Sallum); (b) Meetings with a number of Government officials of Libya, Egypt and Tunisia, as well as representatives of NTC and officials of the United Nations including the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Libya, Abdelilah al-Khatib; (c) Site visits to specific locations where incidents had occurred. In this respect, the Commission was able to visit some sites in Benghazi and Tripoli, though its access was limited due to the ongoing armed conflict; (d) Analysis of video and photographic images gathered by the Commission throughout the reporting period; 3 6 This case was that of Iman al-Obeidi whose account of being raped has been widely publicized. A Commission member also met with members of her family. During its visit to Tripoli, the Commission raised concerns about Ms. Al-Obeidi and requested she be given permission to leave the country. Ms. Al-Obeidi subsequently was able to leave Libya in early May 2011.