and remember that doing no harm is more important than trying to get to information that is not even likely to be of much use if not obtained through professional means. Always keep into account that “keeping interaction to a minimum” is usually the safest way to interact with vulnerable witnesses, as this reduces likelihood of lengthy, detailed and/or multiple interviews being conducted, and that the possibility exists that if a witness is to vulnerable the safest (and most ethical) thing to do is not try and obtain an account. 3.6 Documenting Information from Minors Particular caution should also be taken to do no harm when the victim/witness is a minor. 163 Unofficial investigators should bear in mind the high risk of re-traumatization and causing damage to minors when interviewing them. Therefore, it is recommended not to interview minors at all, and if deemed appropriate anyway as well as indispensable, to do so only by keeping any interaction to a minimum. In particular, avoid interviewing young children and minors that have experienced serious trauma, especially sexual and gender-based violence. In such cases, it is better to find other ways of documenting the case, or to focus on finding someone trained. The parents/guardian or a person they trust must at any time be present in any documentation of information from a minor. Only when it concerns older minors and lesser traumas, may unofficial investigators consider interacting with the minor concerned, if necessary and in accordance with the ethical principles laid out in this Handbook (see Chapter 2). Unofficial investigators must make every effort to prevent or minimize any harmful consequences to the minor.164 This includes advising the minor, their parents, guardians or caregivers, of any 163 Foreign and Commonwealth Office, International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict: Basic Standards of Best Practice on The Documentation of Sexual Violence as a Crime under International Law, 29 (2014), available at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/319054/PSVI_protocol_web .pdf; PHR, Curriculum Companion: Program on Sexual Violence in Conflict Zone, Cross-Sectorial Training, UNPUBLISHED. 164 Global Protection Cluster, Handbook for Coordinating Gender-based Violence Interventions in humanitarian Settings, Annex 35 (2010), available at http://www.unicef.org/protection/files/GBV_Handbook_Long_Version.pdf; World Health Organization, WHO Ethical and safety recommendations for researching, documenting and monitoring sexual violence in emergencies, 9 and 29 (2007), available at http://www.who.int/gender/documents/OMS_Ethics&Safety10Aug07.pdf. 112