• • • What is needed to foster discussion and concrete action? How can resource constraints be overcome? What are the open questions beyond this project? They showed that further efforts are needed to strengthen our knowledge of the problem of procedural rights, to exchange and deal with the perspectives and mindsets and engage all stakeholders in the discussion and the development of joint solutions. Applying a systemic and strategic approach to change promises to increase our impact on strengthening procedural rights. Tools like the Change Formula and a Theory of Change can be helpful to organise change processes and to undertake the necessary interventions. The project identified the most common interventions to strengthen procedural rights and during the project events it was discussed how these can be used most effectively. The chapter below outlines these main tools summarising the discussions and offers reflections on their understanding, purpose, strategic use, challenges and how they can be overcome. 3. Tools of change In the area of procedural rights, research is particularly important because it is very difficult to know what is going on in police stations or other places which are not accessible to the external world and to the public. It was broadly acknowledged by CSOs involved in the project that we need to better understand the problem of procedural rights and the profiles of the persons who find themselves in this situation in order to influence change. 3.1 Research Definition and purpose Research is the foundational element to start any successful change process. Only by understanding the full extent of a problem and why it persists, can one know how to influence it (see above, § 2.2). In the project we have adopted a broad definition of human rights research, which goes beyond academic research. There is no general definition of human rights research but the common element is the goal to promote human dignity and well-being. Human rights research analyses a problem in relation to human rights obligations, including the socio-political context in which a problem is situated, and thereby helps to have a realistic idea regarding change and in choosing the most suitable tools of change. Research is also a crucial base for the other tools of change, such as advocacy, strategic litigation, and capacity development. In the area of procedural rights, research is particularly important because it is very difficult to know what is going on in police stations or other places which are not accessible to the external world and to the public. It was broadly acknowledged by CSOs involved in the project that we need to better understand the problem of procedural rights and the profiles of the persons who find themselves in this situation in order to influence change. Principles and strategic use Chapter 2.2. outlines the importance of gaining a holistic understanding of procedural rights in the context of police custody. Above all, relevant research needs to identify who is taken into police custody, what is their profile, and what are their needs, as procedural rights cannot be dissociated from the systemic context in which they are expected to be implemented. Moreover, research needs to 33