[3] The draft declaration, was adopted without a vote by a Special United Nations Committee at the end of a three-week sessions in New York held 4–22 February 1991.
On 9 December 1991, the General Assembly adopted resolution 46/59; Declaration on Fact-finding by the United Nations in the Field of the Maintenance of International Peace and Security.
[4] The resolution emphasized "...that the ability of the United Nations to maintain international peace and security depends to a large extent on its acquiring detailed knowledge about the factual circumstances of any dispute or situation" and "...to encourage States to bear in mind the role that competent organs of the United Nations can play in ascertaining the facts in relation to disputes or situations.
"[5] The declaration that defines and institutionalizes the use of such missions states that it is not only a tool to gather information, but also to signal concern over a potentially explosive situation.
Professor Lyal S. Sunga discusses how UN human rights special procedures fact-finding can help the International Criminal Court find facts and how the two should be made complementary.