This course consists of a blend of theory and role-play exercises, both as a participant and observer. It includes cognitive interviewing through the PEACE model and conversation management techniques, including skills development in questioning and active listening.
We will look at:
- the process of interviewing, including planning and preparation, relationship building and managing information
- key considerations for approaching survivors/victims and witnesses
- credibility and reliability
- use of intermediaries and interpreters
- understanding witness memory
- verbal and non-verbal communication
- dealing with barriers to communication such as investigative mindsets
- managing difficult and challenging behaviour during the interview
- interviewing suspects and ‘insiders’
- interviewing individuals who may be disadvantaged through age, developmental issues or post-traumatic stress disorder
- techniques to interview survivor/victim/witnesses of conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence against both female and male, adults will be addressed.
The best thing being by far the team building experience: work with people I had never seen before and that came from different background, put together our expertise and experiences in a constructive way. Each of us brought something to our team and I believe we all learn about the importance of listening to one another and question our ideas. It was like building a picture to which each one of us contributed with an essential detail.
The course was definitely an extraordinary experience.
I too feel honoured to have been part of such a valuable training event and gained a wealth of knowledge from all of your expertise in a variety of areas
The course was definitely an extraordinary experience. I really appreciate putting things to practice with all the group exercises. It is essential to be part of a multi-disciplinary team and learn how to work with others. It is what I enjoyed most.
We had a colleague on mission from Geneva a while back, and when they found out I had completed the IICI investigators course they mentioned that it was the ‘gold standard’ of training and that more human rights officers needed to do it. Could not agree more.