or witnesses and not only of women), allowing them to gather information on the differentiated impact of the human rights violations on women, girls, men and boys. “Do no harm” Respecting the “do no harm” principle requires a proper assessment of gender dynamics and cultural norms that may result in victims and witnesses being exposed to further harm, including retraumatization or stigma, violence and marginalization at the hands of alleged perpetrators or the victims’ families and communities. At the same time, it is important not to make assumptions about a victim’s needs or condition based on stereotypical views. For example, it should not be assumed that all victims of sexual violence would find the process of recounting their experience traumatizing. If well conducted, such a process could in fact be healing and empowering. • Experts and local or international women’s and human rights representatives and activists in the field, including representatives of civil society organizations working with and on the human rights of women and girls and LGBTI persons, as well as service providers, such as medical care providers targeting women and girls, midwives, humanitarian and human rights personnel and social workers, including those working with women and girls, among others. Besides giving their own account of the events under investigation, these actors might be willing to assist the investigation by providing relevant documentation, reports and information gathered on the ground and serve as intermediaries to contact other victims, witnesses or sources. Prior to arranging an interview with a victim or witness, especially a person potentially traumatized or in a situation of vulnerability, Human Rights Officers should consider, for example: • Whether the victim may experience reprisals, marginalization, stigma or violence, including at the hands of their family or community, for contacting and/ or informing the investigation team; • Official reports and statistics, reports and data produced by United Nations entities, humanitarian actors and civil society and medical and forensic reports and videos may all be valuable sources of information for the documentation of human rights violations, including violations of women’s human rights, and GBV, and of the differentiated impact of human rights violations on women, girls, men and boys. While many of these documents may have been gathered in the preparation phase, additional documentation may surface or become known through interaction with different actors at the local level when gender-sensitive questions are asked. • What facts are critical to the case and whether the victim or witness can provide the necessary information; • Whether the victim or witness has already given a statement, including to another United Nations agency/ agencies, in order to assess whether it is necessary to ask her/him to recount traumatic events once again; • Whether the investigator knows how to respond appropriately to the victim or witness if she/he becomes distressed, and whether the investigator is knowledgeable about referrals to counselling and other services.34 • State officials and members of armed groups, or former officials and former members of armed groups, if possible and where security risks can be adequately mitigated, might also be willing to be interviewed. For more information, see OHCHR, Commissions of Inquiry and Fact-Finding Missions on International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (2015), p. 33 ff. 34 25