A/HRC/57/18 security, both during and resulting from their cooperation with the Mechanism. Such measures extend to all areas of the Mechanism’s operations, from collection to sharing, to ensure that individuals and entities that cooperate with the Mechanism do not suffer harm. 54. To enable the Mechanism’s investigative activities, the Mechanism conducted over 330 contact assessments during the reporting period to identify security risks and ensure that witnesses can engage safely with the Mechanism. As the Mechanism does not have the power to provide physical security or guarantee the safety of witnesses or to grant anyone the right to travel or enter any country, the cooperation of Member States remains crucial for the protection of witnesses, particularly the most at-risk individuals. The Mechanism relies on the assistance of Member States to be able to timely and adequately respond to threat actors in areas where witnesses reside and to ensure that they are safe and that important evidence is preserved. 55. Survivors of all crimes, including sexual and gender-based crimes, often suffer lasting physical and psychological injuries. The Mechanism continues working to ensure that all of its interactions with witnesses, both remote and in person, adopt a survivor-centred, gendersensitive and trauma-informed approach, including through appropriate evaluation and support for all vulnerable witnesses, in particular children and survivors of sexual and genderbased violence. The Mechanism provides psychosocial assistance during interviews to ensure the well-being of witnesses and to facilitate support through referral services. During the reporting period, the Mechanism developed a system for follow-up engagements with witnesses who have been interviewed by the Mechanism, to check on their well-being and security and to seek their feedback on their engagement with the Mechanism. While many such witnesses continue to live in very difficult circumstances, their feedback has been positive. Witnesses have overwhelmingly indicated that they felt that their engagement with the Mechanism gave them a meaningful opportunity to contribute to efforts to ensure accountability for serious international crimes. 56. With the aim of strengthening culturally informed and survivor-centred practices, the Mechanism continued to enhance its support capacities, including through the addition of a mental health professional who speaks the Myanmar language (Burmese) as well as partnerships with psychosocial experts fluent in one of the Myanmar languages. The Mechanism also broadened its referral network for psychosocial support across different locations, despite significant challenges in identifying and establishing referral organizations and in finding available professionals in areas impacted by political unrest, socioeconomic factors and security threats, where resources are scarce. To improve planning and implementation of witness support, the Mechanism regularly evaluates trends in support needs and refines available support services. During the reporting period, the Mechanism provided in-house support to nearly 50 witnesses, assessing their vulnerabilities and identifying their needs in order to reduce the risk of possible negative impact on their well-being as a result of their cooperation with the Mechanism. Eight individuals have been referred to external service providers to receive medical and psychosocial support, as provided for in the Mechanism’s term of reference. E. Security of personnel, information assets and operations 57. The Mechanism is closely monitoring the worsening security situation in areas directly affecting its operations as it places the highest priority on ensuring the security of its personnel, information assets and operations. The Mechanism’s activities, including investigative missions and other interactions with witnesses in vulnerable situations and at high-risk, require complex security arrangements for its personnel. The Mechanism aims to ensure that required safety and security arrangements, based on the Mechanism’s specific security needs and risk assessments, are integrated into all aspects of its operations, both in Geneva and during missions. This has included monitoring and analysing an increasing number of threat actors and their activities and producing comprehensive and regularly updated country or area-specific situation threat and risk assessments. Utilizing its well-established communications channels, the Mechanism maintains close coordination and advance planning with entities of the United Nations system and with security interlocutors in various locations. This has contributed to the safety and security of investigative missions 14 GE.24-11995