Preventing Torture An Operational Guide for National Human Rights Institutions Chapter 5: Interviewing • Interviewing is important for a number of purposes, such as collecting information, assessing its credibility and cross-checking. • It is crucial to prepare for an interview and to be clear about what you hope to achieve. • Interviewing is a delicate task and a primary goal is to build rapport with the interviewee. Basic principles should be followed in terms of opening the interview, asking open and non-leading questions, closing the interview and respecting confidentiality. • Follow-up is essential, for example by preparing an affidavit or identifying other people to interview. • Interviewing victims of trauma poses specific challenges; an interviewer needs to be prepared for this and know how to respond appropriately. Chapter 6: Training public officials • Training public officials is an important way that NHRIs can contribute to the prevention of torture. • NHRIs can be involved in developing and revising training curricula and relevant training material on torture prevention. • NHRIs can develop and deliver training courses which is based on a needs assessment, contains practical content, involves relevant participants and includes evaluation. Chapter 7: Cooperating with international bodies NHRIs can contribute to the effective work of international and regional bodies. They can submit independent and credible information, participate in review procedures and follow up on recommendations. Interaction with the following mechanisms is important for the prevention of torture and ill-treatment: • United Nations Human Rights Council, in particular the universal periodic review • Treaty bodies, in particular the Committee against Torture • Special procedures, in particular the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture • Regional complaints mechanisms • Visiting mechanisms at the international level, such as the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture, and the regional level. Chapter 8: Monitoring places of detention • Monitoring places of detention through regular visits should respect basic principles, in particular the principle to “do no harm”. • Visits to places of detention should be well planned in terms of reviewing available information, dividing tasks between team members and making prior contacts. • Key steps involved in conducting a visit include: initial talk with the person in charge, tour of the premises, consultation of registers, private interviews with detainees, final talk with the person in charge. • Reporting on visits and preparing recommendations is crucial as a follow-up mechanism and for establishing an ongoing dialogue with the relevant authorities. 112