NCHR recently co-organised, supported and contributed to two side-events on at the CCPCJ, held at the UN Office on Drugs and Crime in Vienna on May 15th.
Effective Interviewing and Investigation: Tools and Resources for Enhanced Criminal Justice
The second side-event, titled "Effective Interviewing and Investigation: Tools and Resources for Enhanced Criminal Justice," hosted by Norway, were the first time the UN Manual on Investigative Interviewing for Criminal Investigation was launched for a broader audience within a UN setting. The event further emphasized the significance of effective interviewing methods and their impact on criminal justice outcomes. Discussions revolved around the gathering of reliable evidence, recent developments in investigative interviewing techniques, and available tools and resources for criminal justice practitioners.
The event commenced with opening remarks from distinguished speakers including H.E. Ms. Susan Eckey, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Norway to the UN in Vienna; H.E. Mr. Azzeddine FARHANE, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Morocco to the UN in Vienna, and Mr. John Brandolino, Director, Division of Treaty Affairs, UNODC. In addition, video messages were delivered by Police Commissioner Faisal Shahkar, United Nations Police Adviser, and the OHCHR’s Country Representative in Liberia, Mr. Christian Mukosa. The panel presentation was moderated by Zenia Chrysostomidis, Head of International Department, NCHR.
It included compelling insights from Assistant Commissioner of Police, Fanny Aboagye, who presented on the UN Manual on Investigative Interviewing, highlighting key features of the methodology and crucial safeguards. Valentina Cadelo, Senior Adviser on Law and Advocacy at the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT), provided an overview of the Méndez Principles, emphasizing their relevance in ensuring effective interviewing in the context of criminal investigations. Anna Giudice, Team leader at UNODC, delivered a presentation on the UNODC eLearning on Investigative Interviewing, emphasizing its accessibility and comprehensive coverage. Laura Blanco, Legal Advisor from the Convention against Torture Initiative (CTI), introduced the CTI Police Resource Toolkit.
The two side-events held during the 33rd session of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, were the first of several opportunities to highlight the role of practitioners in the implementation of investigative interviewing and officially launch the UN Manual on Investigative Interviewing for Criminal Investigation.
The annual session in Vienna is the UN’s principal policy-making body within the field of crime prevention and criminal justice.