The expert meeting “Safeguarding Against Ill-Treatment in Interrogation: Aligning Disciplines for Effective and Fair Interviewing,” held in Geneva on 23–24 April 2026, gathered specialists from across Europe and the United States to examine how to strengthen non-coercive interviewing in practice. Organised within the ImpleMéndez COST Action in cooperation with the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, the event created space for open exchange among legal experts, practitioners, and researchers.
Across four themes, participants addressed key challenges. Discussions explored how legal safeguards can be better applied in daily work, stressing that gaps often arise not from missing rules but from weak implementation and monitoring. Sessions on vulnerability highlighted the need to protect children and other at-risk groups through proper training, access to legal support, and careful interviewing methods. Experts also examined the role of recording in promoting transparency and accountability, while raising concerns about uneven practices across systems. Finally, attention turned to informal questioning, with speakers warning that off-record practices can undermine fundamental rights.
The meeting strengthened cooperation, clarified shared priorities, and set direction for future work on effective interviewing. Read more about the event to explore key insights and practical recommendations.