VI. When to consult? • The circumstances prevailing in a country will determine the form and scale of the consultations, and the impact of their outcome. Consultations will be most productive if conducted in times of relative peace and security and when the relevant communities are accessible over reasonable periods of time. • In times or locations of ongoing armed conflict, efforts to undertake consultations need to take account of the impact of the prevailing climate of fear or intimidation, and need to cope with impeded access to the relevant communities as well as insecurity. The consultations themselves may even exacerbate the risk to individuals and communities, for instance, by gathering people in dangerous locations or by encouraging them to express views that may draw hostile attention. • It is useful to periodically conduct consultations during the implementation of a transitional justice programme, with a view to recalibrating it and enhancing its impact by structural adjustments. • Preliminary piloting activities may be useful, in particular for large-scale national consultations, as they might lead to adaptations and improvements of the consultation methodology. VII. Where to consult and for how long? • The location of the consultations depends on their precise objective. A localized approach may be appropriate if the goal is to hear the views of a particular community or category of victims. Broad, countrywide consultations also have merit, including when they seek the views of communities that may not have been directly affected by a conflict. A preliminary mapping exercise, taking account of previous conflict patterns, can assist in determining the locations where consultations should take place. • Venues for consultations should ideally be neutral. Places which are directly or symbolically linked to the previous conflict, such as army or police buildings, government or religious buildings and crime sites, should be avoided. It is prudent to choose the venues and the precise timing of events in consultation with local representatives of victims or the other stakeholders. • The duration of a consultation will depend on its purpose and scale, as well as on such considerations as access and security. Short processes help maintain a tight focus and avoid fatigue or loss of motivation among consultation personnel. Longer consultation processes, on the other hand, may facilitate acceptance of the process on the part of consultees, a maturation of their viewpoints and an ongoing refinement of methodologies. 31