MONITORING METHODOLOGY WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO BE INTERVIEWED AND BY WHOM? Find a location where there is as much privacy as possible and where the child feels safe and at ease without too many sources of distraction. The room chosen by the child him/ herself is obviously the best option. Otherwise, a neutral room should be the priority such as the cafeteria or a classroom or a visiting room but in any case not the guardians’ office or any other place where the child may not feel safe or comfortable, or where the privacy may be in jeopardy. PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY: “The privacy and personal data of children in detention must be protected by monitoring monitors so that access to personal information about children is restricted to the minimum number of people who need to know and no information or personal data is made available or published, particularly in the media, which could reveal or indirectly enable the disclosure of the child’s identity, including image, detailed descriptions of the child or the child’s family, names or addresses, audio and video records, etc. Children must be asked for their permission before a photo is taken and a photo may only be used if a child has given their consent for its use for a specified purpose. Monitors must be aware of the risk that, once public, their reports may be used to sensationalise issues around children in detention and that the children who participated may be misrepresented and linked with moral panic surrounding children in conflict with the law. It is essential to avoid the use of language and images that could degrade, victimise or shame children, which make generalisations which do not accurately reflect the nature of the situation, or which discriminate against certain groups of children.” Justice for children Briefing n°2: Independent monitoring mechanisms for children in detention. PRI WHO WILL PERFORM THE INTERVIEW? One member of the team should be designated to lead the interview. Specific experience and/or proper preparation and training in child issues and communication skills is required. See – Section 4.1. / F. – p.54 When possible, children should be offered the option of the gender of the person conducting the interview which can be particularly important for a child who has been abused. When necessary, duly prepared interpreters will participate in the interview. See – Section 4.1. / F. – p.54 & Section 4.2. / G. – p.65 HOW THE INTERVIEW WILL BE RECORDED AND HOW THE INFORMATION COLLECTED WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL? If allowed, a recording device may be used to reduce the number of people in the room. If not, a second monitor should join the main interviewer to take notes in order for him/ her to maintain full attention and eye contact with the child as part of building trust with him/her. It is important to make the child aware of why the interview is being recorded and how the recording will be kept confidential. 75 4