Project title: Establishing a Dutch-language Méndez Centre for Investigative Interviewing
Project leads: Miet Vanderhallen, Lore Mergaerts, Linda Geven & Jenny Schell-Leugers
The Méndez Centre will in general identify and foster good practice by undertaking high-quality research and training based on a multi-pronged approach to enhance the implementation of the Méndez Principles by
- Applying for research grants and conducting high-quality studies
- Developing and distributing training materials and best-practices findings
- Organising train-the-trainer programmes and delivering training
- Raising awareness among policymakers and practitioners via lectures, outreach, and by embedding the Méndez mindset in everyday academic and professional activities (e.g., education, expert witness work, media engagement)
- Responding to consultation requests from professionals, institutions, and academics
- Providing expert advice and consultancy
- Performing expert analyses in legal proceedings.
The project was initiated in October 2025. A first key activity will consist of contributing to the Dutch translation of the Méndez Principles in the course of 2026. Next, a website for the Méndez Centre will be launched. In Flanders, support has already been obtained from multiple partners, including the Association of Prosecutors-General, the Ministry of Justice, the National Police Academy, and the Institute for training magistrates. In the Netherlands, initial contact has been made with the Police Academy and the Dutch Criminal Defence Lawyers Association. Further agreements will be pursued in the upcoming months. All these activities serve as a preparation for the official Méndez Centre launch during an event held early 2027.