I I N T E G R AT I N G A G E N D E R P E R S P E C T I V E I N T O H U M A N R I G H T S I N V E S T I G AT I O N S • G U I D A N C E A N D P R A C T I C E D a session on the referral of victims or witnesses to service providers, especially of medical and psychosocial services, as part of the team’s protection functions. TRAINING/BRIEFING THE TEAM ON GENDER INTEGRATION All members of an investigation team have a responsibility to integrate a gender perspective into their work. It is therefore imperative to train all staff members to detect gender concerns and impacts within their area of expertise and assigned functions. If the team is trained in applying gender-sensitive practices and documentation techniques for the collection of information and data, the quality of the gender analysis will be enhanced and the chance that the investigators disregard valuable information decreased. The training should include how to identify the gendered impact of human rights violations, how to interview victims and survivors of GBV, including sexual violence, and how to write a report that mainstreams gender. Gender Advisers supporting investigative bodies have developed different methods to enhance the capacities of the entire investigation team, including Commissioners/Experts, staff and interpreters. Gender Advisers, when part of the team, might develop summaries/briefs on different aspects of gender integration, including key gender concepts (such as indirect discrimination and GBV), a situational overview for women and men in the country/region under investigation and an introduction to gender analysis. Another method to promote gender integration into the work of the team is to organize training sessions. Some CoIs/FFMs have developed thematic briefings or training sessions for the staff of the secretariat, with the support of the OHCHR Women’s Human Rights and Gender Section.32 Training sessions can combine theoretical information about GBV with practical exercises. These aim at identifying violations of women’s rights and gendered impacts in fictional scenarios while applying the relevant international framework. All Human Rights Officers with investigative functions should be in the position and trained to undertake interviews with GBV victims and survivors, even when the team counts on the support of a Gender Advisor. This is particularly important as it may not always be possible to know in advance whether GBV, including sexual violence, may come up in the context of interviews. Training sessions should also include OHCHR, “Women’s human rights and gender equality”. 32 22