Protocols In general, the investigating officers handling child rights cases have the following duties: a. To make the appropriate recommendations to the Commission concerning the welfare of the child; b. To marshal and properly coordinate the delivery of resources and other social services to the child; c. To explain, in a language understood by the child, all legal proceedings, including CHR and police investigations, in which the child is involved; d. To request additional examinations by medical or mental health professionals if there is a compelling need therefore. In particular, below are the special guidelines/ procedures in investigation which the CHR Investigating Officers should follow before, during and after interviewing child victims and children in conflict with the law: When the Child is a Victim Pre-interview a. Only CHR investigators, lawyers and other officers and personnel who have appropriate training on the rights of children and in the handling of investigation of cases involving women and children shall be assigned to undertake the investigation of cases involving human rights violations and abuses against children, to include cases of domestic violence; b. CHR officers involved in the investigation and delivery of protection services to children who are victims of human rights violations and/or other forms of child abuse, to include domestic violence, shall, at all times, be sensitive to the needs, plight, and status of said victims, taking into account their tender age, evolving capacity, distress, traumatic experience, and condition; c. Before the interview shall be conducted, the investigating officer shall introduce himself/ 101 herself properly to the child and inform the child and the child’s parent or guardian that he/ she is there to help; d. The questions to be asked, if possible, should be prepared before the interview proper. They should be appropriate to the age, the developmental level and evolving capacity of the child; Interview Proper e. CHR officers and personnel concerned shall ensure that the investigation and interview process shall not in any way expose child-victims to further distress, trauma, psychological or emotional torture, humiliation and sufferings; f. In all such cases, the CHR investigating officer shall conduct an interview or take the statement of any child in the presence of his/ her father or mother, or guardian, or social worker and/or any other support person. The CHR investigating officer should be mindful of the dangers of multiple victimization if the child is compelled to tell and re-tell his or her side of the story and must apply the standard of best interests of the child in all investigative and monitoring processes to be undertaken; g. All interviews of a child victim shall be conducted in a child-friendly room or childfriendly environment to ensure that the child can feel comfortable, secure and safe; h. Whenever appropriate, the CHR investigating officer can provide the child anatomicallycorrect dolls, puppets, drawings or any other appropriate demonstrative device to assist the child in telling her story; i. The investigating officer must talk the child’s language, and avoid using technical terms. If possible use the vernacular or the child’s dialect; j. The CHR investigating officer may seek the assistance of an interpreter whom the child can understand and who understands the child. In CHR Gender Ombud Guidelines