96 Protocols • Emphatic women with disabilities. • Firmly committed to ending VAW and working towards gender equality and women’s empowerment 7. During the conduct of investigation and/ or provision of legal aid and other support services, investigators, lawyers and gender focal persons shall conduct the interviews behind closed doors and do not allow the media to have access to any information regarding the victim/survivor. (An adult victim however, may choose to speak with the media, preferably with the assistance of her counsel.) 8. The investigator, lawyer and gender focal person shall not disclose the name and personal circumstances of the victim/ survivor or complainant without her consent or any other information that might reveal her identity to the media or the public, or take any action that might compromise her privacy (IRR of RA 9262/RA 9208). INTERVIEW PROPER Pre-Interview • Prior to the conduct of the interview proper, the investigator, lawyer of gender focal person shall at first inquire on the safety and comfort of the victim-survivor and on her willingness and readiness to go through investigation and/or interview for provision of legal aid and services . When the victim-survivor is in need of medical attention ,the same shall first be attended to. • As much as possible, proper facilities for the conduct of the interview i.e. the interview room and/or the children friendly spaces for the children of victims-survivors should be prepared before hand. Other needs of the victim survivor should be duly prepared for, e.g. awareness of cultural norms and practices in cases of IP women, and reasonable accommodation/provisions of accessibility for • When documents are available, the investigator, lawyer or gender focal person shall carefully study the same, with a view of avoiding revictimization and further trauma when statements and accounts have already been previously taken. In such cases, instead of another retelling, clarificatory questions may be asked; • At all times, there is a need to ensure that the victim-survivor is ready and willing to proceed with the investigation, interview, legal processes and other remedies available. Investigators and lawyers should not insist or pressure the victim to subject herself to the investigation and legal process regarding her case. During Interview • Ensure respect for the dignity of the womanvictim or the woman-suspect during the course of the investigation.150 • Attempts should be made to make the victimsurvivor feel comfortable, such as offering food and asking if she needs anything. Interview, especially those involving violence/sexual abuse, should be at the pace of the womansurvivor. • Questions are asked in a matter-of-fact tone of voice, in a direct yet calm and supportive manner, and with utmost patience. An attitude of belief in cases of sexual violence and abuse is encouraged. • Care should be taken to avoid suggesting that the victim is to be blamed for the incident. This has to be specially observed in cases of violence against women, with due recognition of the ‘battered woman syndrome’ and the various difficulties faced by women in reporting case of violence and abuse. • Investigators/lawyers should not make any 150 From Investigator’s Handbook CHR Gender Ombud Guidelines