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 I when carrying out the investigation and analysing data. Investigation teams need also to be aware of specific standards, rules and guidelines applying to women and girls, such as the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (the Bangkok Rules). Example Some CoIs/FFMs explain in detail the methods and standards used as verification (A/HRC/25/CRP.1, paras. 63-78), some providing specific analysis on how standards of proof were met in relation to sexual violence. “For instance, for acts of sexual violence or torture, it can be very difficult to corroborate the allegations of the victims with another independent source, especially if the victim had no access to medical assistance. In such cases, corroboration could be obtained by evaluating the details of the victim’s statement, its credibility, trying to determine if it is consistent with information available in the public domain and establishing if the acts reveal patterns that correspond to other similar cases.” [nonofficial translation] (A/HRC/36/CRP.1/Rev.1, para. 28)26 SETTING THE BASIS FOR A GENDERSENSITIVE METHODOLOGY Investigators should aim at corroborating any given piece of information by obtaining concurring information from two other independent and reliable sources.25 However, this may not always be possible, particularly when stigma is attached to certain violations and victims risk being marginalized by their communities for exposing what they have suffered, or when certain forms of violations are committed out of sight of eye witnesses. In such cases, applying a unified method of verification for all violations without a gendersensitive approach may disregard or consider as unverified certain forms of violations. Some CoIs/FFMs have taken into consideration differentiated factors, including gender, when defining verification requirements, especially for cases of torture and sexual violence. Thus, the verification of a case may occur where a coherent, consistent testimony from a single primary source (e.g. the victim or a witness) corresponds to a pattern of similar cases. Available guidance and good practices in interviewing and establishing trust with victims, including victims of GBV, both male and female, should be considered and discussed at the outset of the investigation. While all possible efforts should be deployed to obtain relevant information, “do no harm” principles and the avoidance of retraumatization should also receive due attention.27 Where the interviews are likely to be with traumatized persons, investigation teams should discuss how best to assess and manage trauma in interviews. An important part of this includes the identification of viable referral pathways and ensuring that all Human Rights Officers conducting interviews See also Navanethem Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, “Human Rights Investigations and their Methodology”, lecture given at the Graduate Institute, Geneva, 24 February 2010; Emily Kenney, “Developing a gender methodology for U.N. commissions of inquiry”, International Law and Politics, vol. 46, No. 2 (2013), p. 631. 26 For more information, see OHCHR, Commissions of Inquiry and Fact-finding Missions on International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (2015), pp. 59-60. 25 OHCHR (2011), Chapter 15. 27 18