In relation to confidentiality, the trainer should refer back to sections on working with interpreters in Module 4 and working with intermediaries in Module 5 to emphasise that confidentiality requirements apply to the whole team and any support staff. Confidentiality is also relevant to risk assessments and potential impacts of sexual violence, since survivors or witnesses may be extremely anxious about anyone finding out that they have been directly affected by sexual violence or that they have cooperated with the investigation/documentation process. Participants should be made aware of special considerations that may apply to interviewing male and child survivors or witnesses. The participants should be particularly cautious with their planning, information storage and field activities to avoid accidentally or negligently revealing confidential or potentially identifying information. They should also think carefully about the ultimate use of the information they collect (i.e. sharing with national authorities/international organisations) and what impact that could have on their ability to guarantee the security or confidentiality of their information. The trainer should make clear that confidentiality is often a major issue for survivors and witnesses and that they are likely to seek reassurances about anonymity or keeping their information private. If investigators cannot personally guarantee the ongoing confidentiality of the information and in most circumstances, no matter how good their – intentions, it simply will not be practically possible they must understand that they should – not make any promises to the survivor or witness. Not only does it have the potential to damage trust if that promise is later broken, it may also have been a critical or decisive factor in their decision to cooperate and therefore be capable of undermining their informed consent. It should be emphasised to participants that if (or more commonly, when) interviewers cannot guarantee confidentiality, they should not promise it. The trainer should encourage discussion about this issue and how it might be applied to their work. The final section of this module relates to referrals and the availability of suitable support services for survivors and witnesses. The trainer should research relevant referral and support systems for sexual violence in their areas where participants work and highlight these to the participants, and should also ask them for examples of useful medical, psycho-social, legal or protective services that they have worked with in the past. The participants should understand that many survivors and witnesses of sexual violence may not have received any support or assistance since the event and may be struggling with the long-term physical, psychological
In relation to confidentiality, the trainer should refer back to sections on working with interpreters in Module 4 and working with intermediaries in Module 5 to emphasise that confidentiality requirements apply to the whole team and any support staff. Confidentiality is also relevant to risk assessments and potential impacts of sexual violence, since survivors or witnesses may be extremely anxious about anyone finding out that they have been directly affected by sexual violence or that they have cooperated with the investigation/documentation process. Participants should be made aware of special considerations that may apply to interviewing male and child survivors or witnesses. The participants should be particularly cautious with their planning, information storage and field activities to avoid accidentally or negligently revealing confidential or potentially identifying information. They should also think carefully about the ultimate use of the information they collect (i.e. sharing with national authorities/international organisations) and what impact that could have on their ability to guarantee the security or confidentiality of their information. The trainer should make clear that confidentiality is often a major issue for survivors and witnesses and that they are likely to seek reassurances about anonymity or keeping their information private. If investigators cannot personally guarantee the ongoing confidentiality of the information – and in most circumstances, no matter how good their intentions, it simply will not be practically possible – they must understand that they should not make any promises to the survivor or witness. Not only does it have the potential to damage trust if that promise is later broken, it may also have been a critical or decisive factor in their decision to cooperate and therefore be capable of undermining their informed consent. It should be emphasised to participants that if (or more commonly, when) interviewers cannot guarantee confidentiality, they should not promise it. The trainer should encourage discussion about this issue and how it might be applied to their work. The final section of this module relates to referrals and the availability of suitable support services for survivors and witnesses. The trainer should research relevant referral and support systems for sexual violence in their areas where participants work and highlight these to the participants, and should also ask them for examples of useful medical, psycho-social, legal or protective services that they have worked with in the past. The participants should understand that many survivors and witnesses of sexual violence may not have received any support or assistance since the event and may be struggling with the long-term physical, psychological
PSVI_training_-_testimony.docx