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S/2016/530 4/8 16-09620 of case-specific information collection, analysis and assessment, the identification of information gaps and the beginning of corroboration activities. Furthermore, the phase includes technical visits to capitals, the region and the Syrian Arab Republic, interactions with technical bodies such as forensic laboratories and institutes, and witness interviews. The phase will continue until sufficient information has been gathered, analysed, assessed and corroborated to allow the Mechanism to present its findings to the Security Council. III. Activities of the Leadership Panel 5. During the reporting period, the Leadership Panel of the Mechanism focused its efforts on the key aspects set out below. 6. First, the Leadership Panel continued to engage with the members of the Security Council and other States Members of the United Nations, to maintain and strengthen their confidence in and support for the work of the Mechanism. The continuing dialogue with Member States as the principal stakeholders in this effort was of utmost importance to develop and maintain trust and to facilitate subsequent information-gathering for the investigators. The Panel travelled to capitals, upon invitations, for discussions with government officials and to seek cooperation with the Mechanism. During the reporting period, the Panel visited seven countries, three of them in the Middle East, and is planning to visit three more countries in June. The Panel also held more than 100 bilateral meetings with Member States in New York and in The Hague during the past four months. 7. Second, the Leadership Panel established and maintained regular contacts with United Nations entities and other international organizations, non-governmental organizations and other non-State actors, including the private sector, to solicit their cooperation and request relevant information that might benefit the investigation. Through its engagement with relevant stakeholders, the Panel paved the way for their direct communication with the Mechanism’s investigators. 8. Third, the Leadership Panel ensured that the Secretary-General was kept abreast of the Mechanism’s progress in its work. The Panel periodically met the Director General of OPCW in The Hague. In addition, the Panel and the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs jointly informed the Director General after each monthly briefing to the Security Council on resolutions 2118 (2013) and 2235 (2015) of relevant issues that had emerged during the discussion. 9. Fourth, the Leadership Panel ensured that the Mechanism had appropriate and sufficient resources for the investigation. The Panel has facilitated expedited policies for the hiring of specialists to strengthen its team in The Hague and in Damascus with the expertise necessary to conduct and complete a professional investigation. The Trust Fund associated with the Mechanism has been utilized for this purpose. 10. Lastly, the Leadership Panel provided overall guidance and oversight to the investigation as well as the continued adoption of procedures, where necessary. The Panel has been leading the way in developing the Mechanism’s operational guidelines and procedures for identifying perpetrators in the use of chemicals as weapons. These include guidelines and procedures on how to start an investigation, conduct witness interviews, collect, analyse and handle information (including chai