4. MANAGEMENT OF INFORMATION This Chapter explores best practices on managing and storing information related to serious human rights violations. As discussed in the previous Chapter, information about serious human rights violations should not only be collected with the utmost respect for the standards set in this Handbook, it also needs to be properly managed from the outset, and stored in a manner that is secure and preserves its potential evidentiary or probative character. Unofficial investigators should at all times endeavor to pass on any information in their possession to official investigative authorities wherever circumstances so permit. When it is not possible to pass on information directly, such as where authorities may be implicated in the violations or the justice system is unable or unwilling to carry out its mandate impartially and effectively, unofficial investigators are recommended to follow the standards and best practices set in this Chapter. As with all phases of investigations and information-gathering, particular attention should be paid to doing no harm, confidentiality, and security of all persons involved. In general terms, information, and in particular sensitive information, should be shared only on a need-to-know basis. 4.1 Verifying Information Unofficial investigators should bear in mind that assessment of the credibility of information regarding alleged human rights violations is of paramount importance. In principle, and in particular light of security concerns, unofficial investigators should not take on the task of verifying the information themselves, but should pass on information in their possession to a relevant and professional organization as soon as possible. An analysis of the information received and evidence gathered will require an overall assessment of the reliability of the witness, probity, and degree of relevance and veracity of the information. Professional investigators refer to four basic principles when assessing the information: its source reliability, the information credibility, its consistency, and its coherence with the broader context. The reliability of the source of the information should be recorded before any credibility on the information itself can be noted. Assessments carried out by non-professionals should be worded carefully, however, and should only be written as an account of the unofficial investigator’s impressions, and not as a determinative finding. 114