MONITORING METHODOLOGY D. INTERVIEWS WITH CHILDREN “For most professionals, communicating with children in general presents significant challenges that, by and large, may be overcome by specific initial training and ongoing supervised practice. With children deprived of their liberty, professionals are advised to take into account additional paramount idiosyncrasies. In all situations, professionals should envision interviewing children as a task that requires a positive and confident attitude and respect for the complexity of a person in development with so-called cognitive and emotional evolving capacities. This requires that the professional rapidly assess the child’s developmental level with regard to language, his/her degree of relational (un) ease, and scan for other potential red flags that may characterize the child’s functioning. With children deprived of their liberty it is usually expected that meeting an unknown adult may generate considerable anxiety that could lead a given child to withdraw and be less communicative and another to chat along in a compliant but superficial manner. Research suggests that the prevalence of abuse is particularly high in populations of children deprived of their liberty, whether this it be physical, psychological, sexual or any combination thereof, or even having been exposed to critical levels of violence. This should generate a cautious attitude on the part of the professional who may never gain a given child’s complete trust, but will always risk significantly losing it entirely if the interview does not follow basic rules. Nonetheless, under adequate conditions, professionals should find great satisfaction when interviewing children as they are often not entirely predictable and are capable of generating powerful positive attitudes.” Philip D. JAFFE, Psychologist, expert in child development issues in the context of deprivation of liberty Ethical Guidelines should be adopted by the monitoring body to define the interviews with children in such way that they are performed in the safest and most respectful conditions for children and without a risk that children will face reprisals for speaking to a monitoring team. In this sense, it is generally accepted that child interviews should take into account a number of elements and principles so that children feel confident, safe and secure in order to deliver unbiased information that reflects their reality to the interviewers. See – Sections 3.4. – p.37, Section 4.1. / G. – p.56 & Annex 2. – p.158. It is highly desirable that the monitor in charge of interviewing children has experience and if not, is well prepared and trained in child and welfare issues as well as in communication methods with children. The communication style is vital here. In addition, they must also be familiar with the principles and methods to be respected while interviewing children See – Section 3.4. – p.37. 73 4