Grounded in science, law and ethics, the Principles propose a concrete alternative to interrogation methods that rely on coercion to extract confessions. They provide guidance on obtaining accurate and reliable information in full respect of the human rights and dignity of all, including through the implementation of legal and procedural safeguards in the first hours of police custody. The principles aim to transform the relationship between States and their citizens. They are intended to change how public authorities conduct interviewing and as a result improve trust in the State.
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― Professor Juan E. Méndez, former UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
Since October 2021, a wide range of institutions and organisations have expressed their support for the Méndez Principles, including academia, NGOs and other institutions.
These Principles have been drafted by experts in the fields of interviewing, law enforcement, criminal investigations, national security, military, intelligence, psychology, criminology and human rights from around the world. An international Steering Committee of 15 members has guided this process and striven to ground the work on a wide empirical research base, documented good practices, established international law and professional ethics. The final text is the result of four years of their analysis and research in consultation with an Advisory Council of more than 80 experts from over 40 countries.
The Principles on Effective Interviewing for Investigations and Information Gathering were adopted in May 2021 with the support of Anti-Torture Initiative, the Association for the Prevention of Torture, and the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights.
The Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) is an international nongovernmental organisation based in Geneva, working globally to prevent torture and other ill-treatment. Founded in 1977, the APT aims at reducing the risks of torture and ill-treatment by advocating and promoting practical measures such as monitoring of places of detention, implementation of safeguards and protection of detained persons in situations of vulnerability. The APT has played a key role in establishing international standards and mechanisms to prevent torture, among them the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture (OPCAT) and National Preventive Mechanisms.
The Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law (Center) is an academic unit of American University Washington College of Law. The Center established its Anti-Torture Initiative in 2012 to expand the reach and practical implementation of the work of former UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Juan E. Mendez. Through its Anti-Torture Initiative, the Center seeks to promote access to justice and accountability for victims of torture by cultivating a mindset that rejects torture as a legitimate practice and strengthening the institutions, advocates, and global networks that seek to eliminate torture.
Founded in 1987, The Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NCHR) is a multidisciplinary Centre at the University of Oslo. The activities at the centre revolve around research, teaching, and applied international programmes. NCHR staff consist of lawyers, political scientists, social anthropologists, social geographers and philosophers. The Centre places emphasis on the connection between research education and the practical application of knowledge.