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.
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.
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.
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 past two weeks have been such a wonderful experience. So I am writing to say that it was the most interesting, fruitful and pleasant training I have ever been to. Your management of the challenges of our training and your skills in engaging the participants was outstanding. What really amazed me was, how aware you were of everything that was occurring in the classroom, and how you managed to help each attendee personally and to initiate discussions of the topics everyone was thinking and wondering about