Part II Preventing torture: NHRIs in action | Section II Contributing to the implementation of the legal framework The information collected in the interview can be used to complete an incident sheet or included in some other format for recording data. 4.2. Different stages of the interview Starting the interview The start of the interview is crucial for establishing rapport with the interviewee and building a sense of confidence and trust. How you introduce yourself is very important and also shows respect for the interviewee. You know why you want to conduct the interview, however, the interviewee may not. The introduction allows you to explain who you are, the role of the NHRI, what information you are looking to collect and what you will do with the information after the interview. It is important to make no threat or promise and not to create any false expectations. It is essential to clearly explain what you can do and what you cannot do. You should clearly explain what will be done with the information the interviewee provides (whether it will be used in an internal or external report or shared with the authorities) and discuss the extent to which the interviewee may require the information to remain confidential. While most interviewees may not object to the details of their case being included in a public report, they may want their personal details, or any information that may identify them, to remain confidential. You should ensure that the interviewee provides his or her informed consent to the disclosure of this information and record this at the beginning of the interview notes. The interview should start with an open question, such as “What would like to tell me about?” Some victims of torture can be confused or distressed, while others may have so much they want to say that they do not know how to start. Encourage the interviewee to tell their story in a logical, possibly chronologically, sequence. This can be done by inviting the interviewee to “Start at the beginning …” and then continue by asking “What happened next?” If something is unclear, do not interrupt unless it is absolutely necessary. Make a note and come back to the question later on. You may need to collect specific details on particular aspects of the story but the first priority is to listen to the story as a whole. Conducting the interview Open and non-leading questions should be used during the early stages of the interview. An open question is one that invites a person to provide a detailed response, rather than a simple answer of “yes”, “no” or a short fact. Open questions also give control of the conversation to the interviewee, as it allows him or her to choose how much information is shared. A leading question is one where the suggested answer is contained within the question. For example, instead of asking “Did the police torture you?”, you should ask “How did the police treat you?” As the interview progresses, you may need to ask some closed questions to clarify or confirm certain information. The interviewer also has to be careful not to coach the interviewee by suggesting answers to questions or lines of evidence. The art of listening is crucial to conducting effective interviews. The following principles provide a useful guide when interviewing victims of torture. • Let the interviewee narrate his or her story. They know what they want to say. Do not dominate the conversation and do not talk too much yourself. Chapter 5: Interviewing | 49