Preventing Torture An Operational Guide for National Human Rights Institutions - Updated Edition When recording interviews, appropriate technical preparation should be taken to check the equipment to be used, such as ensuring having a notebook with sufficient blank pages, checking if pens work well, checking batteries and memory of the audio/video recorders, and testing the equipment. Even if an interview is being audio/video recorded, written notes should also be taken. 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 greet the interviewee and introduce yourself is very important and shows respect for the interviewee. Make sure you greet the interviewee in a culturally appropriate manner. You know why you want to conduct the interview, however, the interviewee may not. The introduction allows you to explain in a clear and simple way who you are, the role of the NHRI, the purpose of the interview what information you are looking to collect, what you will do with the information after the interview, and to introduce any other person present at the interview such as an interpreter. 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. It is also important to clarify the voluntary nature of the interview and to explain to the interviewee that they can decide not to answer any questions they are not comfortable with and to end the interview at any time. 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 their 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 you 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 “Could you tell me 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. In order to ensure protection of the interview, it is recommended to ask what security precautions the person believes should be taken. 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 them 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 “Could you tell me how did the police treat you?” 70