Undertaking Effective Investigations A Guide for National Human Rights Institutions If it does, the NHRI will need to plan how it will: • announce an investigation • manage any information that it receives • keep all stakeholders updated on the progress of the investigation, without compromising the integrity of the investigation • ensure all other parties who should know about the investigation are kept informed of its progress. The NHRI may need to prepare a communications strategy to announce and support the investigation. This may include a range of elements, such as preparing media releases, holding a media conference, providing updated information on the NHRI website and using social media, such as Twitter and Facebook. It is critical that the NHRI’s communications staff work very closely with the investigators assigned to the case. There are a number of reasons for close cooperation. For example, communications staff may source information or evidence that is directly relevant to the investigation that the investigators may not otherwise collect. This evidence may come from television broadcasts, transcripts of media interviews and so on. In larger offices, it is important to keep all staff fully informed about the launch of a major investigation, to the maximum extent possible. 8. WHAT ARE THE MILESTONES AND TIMELINES? As the investigation plan is developed, set out realistic targets and goals for completing various stages of the investigation. Factor in how much actual control you have over the pace of the investigation. Estimate how long it will take to obtain and review documents, at what point witnesses will have been located and interviewed and so on. Determine if any travel will be necessary, for example to visit a scene, interview witnesses or hold public consultations. Factor in how much evidence will have to be assessed and how long it will take to write the report. Set targets Targets place discipline on the investigation. It provides a roadmap that investigators can use as the investigation progresses. Build timelines into the plan. At its most basic, a timeline may look something like this: Week 1 Research/request documents with a two-week deadline Week 2 Scene visit Begin to interview witnesses Weeks 3–5 Review documents and continue witness interviews Begin outline of report 38 Week 6 Final witness interviews Weeks 5–8 Begin drafting report and conduct any follow-up interviews Weeks 8–9 Fact-check the report