Intermediaries Intermediaries are individuals that practitioners may use to identify and liaise with members of a community, overcome cultural and social barriers, and identify potential victims and other witnesses. Intermediaries can be very effective community interlocutors, although care should be taken to ensure their impartiality. 67 Potential intermediaries may be members/participants of: • Local grassroots organizations; • National and international civil society organizations (CSOs); • Service providers; • Community networks; and • Support structures such as churches, victim/witness support groups, women’s groups.68 Consider using intermediaries: • If unfamiliar with the community and its members and dynamics; • Where victims and other witnesses may be endangered if they approach you directly; or • Where victims and other witnesses are apprehensive about interacting with people from outside the community. 69 Selecting intermediaries: • Beforehand, find out information about the victim’s or witness’ community (leadership) structure. • Members of civil society organizations working (only) with victims may be used to identify victims or witnesses. • Assess any risks to victims and other witnesses, individual members of the community or organizations that may result from proactively seeking out victims and other witnesses via intermediaries. • Be aware of divisions in the community and/or the coexistence of opposing “groups.” 67 Foreign and Commonwealth Office, International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict, 42 (2014). 68 Foreign and Commonwealth Office, International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict, 42 (2014). 69 Foreign and Commonwealth Office, International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict, 42 (2014). 53