For example with regard to information from a person, to assess the reliability of the informant, bear in mind the following: • Is the source a direct/indirect victim/witness, or is the information hearsay? • What are the motives prompting the source to talk? May s/he have a hidden agenda? • Whether the account is consistent and coherent with the broader context are also indicators to assess reliability. 169 Details and clarity can add credibility to an oral or written statement. It is good practice to ask direct (but non-leading) questions and observe how the source reacts, whether narratives flow naturally or seem directed at attempting to control them. 170 • Be cautious in assessing informants’ reactions, especially if you do not have psychological or social training. Never forget, for example, that a victim/witness may feel distressed or afraid. • Unless this raises issues with the informant’s safety or confidentiality, reliability can also be evaluated by seeking to corroborate information and by crosschecking facts (but not sensitive or very personal information) with family, friends, and neighbors, as well as with other witnesses.171 To assess the information’s credibility and consistency, triangulate the information that is collected with information that is collected from other independent sources:172 • Corroborate the content of your information with information from other groups with knowledge of or expertise on the matter. 169 This is evenly the case when assessing written information such as affidavits, witness statements, transcripts from court proceedings, etc. 170 Marit Maehlum, Human Rights Monitoring, in MANUAL ON HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORING. AN INTRODUCTION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS FIELD OFFICERS 1, 17 (Kristin Hogdahl, Ingrid Kvammen Ekkerr and Lalaine Sadiwa, eds., 2002). 171 Amnesty International and CODESRIA, Ukweli. Monitoring and Documenting Human Rights Violations in Africa: A Handbook, 17 (2000), available at https://www.amnesty.nl/sites/default/files/public/ukw_eng.pdf. 172 Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Professional Training Series No. 7: Training Manual on Human Rights Monitoring, 105 (2001), available at http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/training7Introen.pdf. 115