Obtaining the Account When the actual interview takes place, encourage the victim/witness to give an open and narrative account where they can give an uninterrupted account of the relevant facts in their own words.      Set the scene and initiate free recall  Do not interrupt the free recall Do not ask leading or suggestive  questions Avoid jumping back and forth between the past and the present as this can trigger re-traumatization Go from general to painful/sensitive topics, and then back to general topics    Take notes of what needs further clarification Identify and expand topics raised by the interviewee only to the extent that this is necessary for an accurate record. Remember not ask for more details than necessary as every little detail the victim might not be able to recall subsequently could compromise the witnesses’ credibility if challenged in the course of subsequent proceedings. Be aware of your demeanor (and that of interpreter) including pitch and tone of voice Remain polite, respectful, patient and attentive. Show empathy, not pity Never assume feelings, thoughts, facts, preferences or impact of trauma It is important to prepare the questions well and to refrain from asking leading questions. Examples of leading questions are: • Did the soldiers hurt you? o Such a question starts from the assumption that hurt has been done. Rather than making such assumptions, let the victim/witness provide the account of what happened and ask an open question. • Were you at his/her house at the time of the crime? o Let the victim/witness describe the location, do not lead with suggestions. Instead, ask where the interviewee was. • Was s/he wearing a uniform? o Rather than framing as a yes/no question and the interviewer using the word “uniform,” the interviewee should be prompted to provide the description by asking whether the interviewee could describe what the other person was wearing. • Could you tell me whether this person was tall or short? 100