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Human Rights in Counter-Terrorism Investigations
Template Learning Plan on Witnesses, Crime Scenes
and the Seizure and Retention of Evidence
Competencies
Learning outcome necessary
to attain proficiency
1. The ability to deal with Knowledge of:
witnesses in a fair,
• Human rights concerns surrounding the
respectful, conducive
treatment of witnesses and other members of
and safe manner;
the public:
2. The ability to secure
→→Right to life;
a crime scene; and
→→Prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhu3. The ability to seize
man or degrading treatment;
and retain evidence
→→Respect for private and family life;
correctly;
→→Prohibition of discrimination;
All in compliance with
→→Right to a fair trial;
international, regional
→→Freedom of movement; and
and national human
→→Property rights.
rights standards.
• Human rights concerns surrounding law
enforcement officials:
→→Right to the enjoyment of just and favourable
conditions of work;
• How to prepare, conduct and evaluate an
interview of a witness;
Methods
Learning tools:
• Presentations based
on text from the
manual;
• Copies of human
rights standards for
use when in service;
• PEACE model as precourse reading;
• Group analysis of
case studies and
shared discussion of
outcomes;
• Review of audiovisual materials on
how to communicate
effectively and
conduct an interview;
• The needs of the witness, taking into account:
→→age, gender, mental capacity, maturity, reli• After group
gion, culture, emotional state, relationship
discussions, feedback
with the suspect (if any) and relationships with
from the trainer;
other witnesses;
• Simulation of both
• How to treat vulnerable witnesses, such as
interviews and
children, victims of terrorism-related acts, and
examination of crime
survivors of torture and other cruel, inhuman
scenes to practice
and degrading treatment;
skills and review
reactions of trainees;
• The effects of trauma and shock;
and
• The PEACE interview model;
• Recording
• The means available to protect witnesses at
performance during
risk of reprisal throughout the criminal justice
simulations to reflect
process;
on improvements
needed and to assess
• The actions required to examine a crime scene
progress.
safely, with as little danger to investigators and
the public, while doing so as quickly as possible
so as to cause the least interference to the
legitimate activities of people who live and work
in the vicinity;
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