The Use of Fact-Finding within the Human Rights Council: Shaping Perceptions

Abstract

AbstractFact-finding has become increasingly important in the field of human rights. This has led to a proliferation of fact-finding mechanisms created by the Human Rights Council. Through the creation of a mandate there is significant political influence in the subject matter that a fact-finding commission can actually investigate. This article assesses to what extent the choices made in the creation of the mandates of fact-finding commissions are discussed and how these choices influence the outcomes of commissions and help shape the narrative. It puts the mandates of fact-finding commissions in the context of the political perception of the situation at the time of the creation of the mandate, the resulting report. This will show how the mandates of fact-finding missions are influenced by political considerations and how these considerations influence the reception of their outcomes.