6. Monitoring Methodology Interview Do’s and Don’ts Ensure that the interview is fully confidential; Introduce yourself, and clearly explain the reason for the interview; Take time to build trust, and allow people time to express themselves freely; Use a checklist to ensure you have covered all relevant topics, if appropriate; Clarify any vague, ambiguous or conflicting information; and Organize a follow-up visit if you believe a person is in danger as a result of the interview. Do not say or do anything that could put an individual in danger; Do not draw unnecessary attention to the person being interviewed; Avoid asking leading, judgemental or closed-ended questions; Do not discuss the contents of the interview publicly or with members of detention/prison staff; and Do not promise any action that you are unable to follow through on. Interviewing persons who have reported sexual abuse16 If a person reports sexual abuse, monitors should proceed with caution and sensitivity. They will need to find a balance between obtaining information about what happened and avoiding re-traumatization. Wherever possible, interviews with children about SGBV should be carried out by someone with specific expertise in interviewing child victims of abuse. Monitors should ask if the person wishes to see a medical professional or speak to a psychologist or counsellor if such services are available. For any follow-up action, it is very important for medical personnel to be able to document the allegations as soon as possible. 16 For more detailed information about interviewing victims of sexual abuse that may amount to torture and other ill-treatment and gathering medical evidence, including ethical guidelines and standards of documentation, see: University of Essex, The Torture Reporting Handbook, op. cit., note 13; and OHCHR, The Istanbul Protocol: Manual on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, op. cit., note 13 30