Hedda Herresthal recently completed her Master’s Research Fellowship at the NCHR, during which she submitted a thesis analysing the extent to which evidential inferences may be drawn from a child's silence during police interviews under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the European Convention on Human Rights, and the Norwegian Criminal Procedure Act.
As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine nears its fourth year, debates over how to secure lasting peace and justice are intensifying. At a seminar hosted by the NCHR, experts and Ukrainian representatives examined how international crimes are being investigated at domestic and international levels, and how existing and emerging mechanisms can deliver accountability for crimes committed in and against Ukraine.
Criminalisation of environmental defenders constitute a significant concern worldwide. In two recent cases tried before Indonesian courts, charges against environmental defenders were dropped based on so-called anti-SLAPP legislation. This constitute the two first cases where this legal concept has been applied by Indonesian courts. Both cases was a result of human rights litigation directly supported by NCHR.
Mr. Jordan Megolonyo, a Legal Officer at ACTV and a recent participant of the NCHR's Intensive Course in Human Rights, recently wrote an insightful article exploring the challenges and opportunities of applying the Méndez Principles in Uganda. It examines the need for non-coercive interviewing techniques to replace abusive practices, outlining concrete steps for reform that could enhance investigative integrity and align with Uganda’s legal commitments against torture.
Effective investigative interviewing demands both practice and precision. In a recent workshop, participants practiced their skills through hands-on exercises and feedback sessions—an essential final step in the methodology.
Since 2019, NCHR and YLBHI have been working together to enhance the capabilities of human rights lawyers in Indonesia. Their latest four-day training focused on empowering 30 legal aid lawyers to effectively conduct human rights litigation and advocacy.
A training focused on handling blasphemy cases under Indonesian law, was held 10-12 September. This training aimed to equip participants with the skills and knowledge to conduct future trainings.
In a recent UN report, Special Rapporteur Alice Jill Edwards presented an annual overview over trends and developments in the global struggle to end torture and other ill-treatment. The report focuses on new developments and progress between June 2024 and June 2025.
Asbjørn Rachlew—a Norwegian detective superintendent and researcher at the Norwegian Center for Human Rights—recently hosted an online workshop together with JustGroup and the NCHR for participants from the Ukrainian criminal justice sector, focusing on the causes of errors of justice and strategies for prevention.
In Vienna, leaders from Ukraine’s criminal justice system gathered with experts from Norway and Britain for a workshop on improving and developing investigative management practices.
The Thai Office of the Attorney General recently convened a meeting on investigative interviewing in Bangkok, Thailand. The meeting focused on investigative techniques, inter-agency collaboration, and how to prioritize human rights within criminal investigations. As Thailand embraces these best practices, it positions itself as a champion of ethical and effective law enforcement in the region.
In June 2025, the NCHR, in partnership with JustGroup, organized a study visit to Norway for Ukrainian prosecutors centered around best practices in the investigative interviewing of children.
As part of the "Investigative Interviewing in Ukraine" project, Sigrid Buseth, alongside our partner JustGroup, recently led an online workshop on evaluation and feedback for over 40 Ukrainian investigators and prosecutors. This workshop marked the beginning of a new series of advanced sessions on investigative interviewing.
The Ukrainian translation of the UN Manual on Investigative Interviewing for Criminal Investigation was recently launched for use in Ukraine. On April 30, government agency representatives, experts and practitioners gathered to discuss why this tool is critical in promoting rule of law, human rights, and democratic criminal justice.
The Audit Board of the Republic of Indonesia (BPK) has developed its own Indonesian acronym for the investigative interviewing method, and the choice fell on “SANTAI” - meaning “relaxed” in Indonesian. Its implementation helps offer a respectful, empowering, and effective interview experience.
In February 2025, colleagues from Ukraine, the UK, and Norway came together to celebrate a collaborative effort in promoting human rights, the rule of law, and democracy—underscoring the importance of international cooperation during challenging times.
The NCHR is excited to announce the release of the “Investigative Interviewing Summary Checklist”, a groundbreaking tool designed to assist the implementation of investigative interviewing practices around the world.
In a landmark collaboration to advance legal education in Ukraine, JustGroup has launched the first elective course on Investigative Interviewing at the Faculty of Law of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. The course is supported by the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights through the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine.
On December 17, the Indonesian Institute for Independent Judiciary (LeIP) launched a database containing judgements pertaining to human rights.
25 criminal law experts prepared themselves for providing testimony before the courts, through a seminar held 5-7 November 2024.
NCHR senior adviser Susanne H. Flølo was recently appointed as the new co-director of iIIRG. She looks forward to working with the research group to foster collaboration and promote progress in the field of investigative interviewing.
The high-level side-event hosted by the Permanent Mission of Norway highlighted the impact of investigative interviewing methods on criminal justice outcomes during the UN’s principal policy-making body within the field of crime prevention and criminal justice.
The first "One UN" manual on criminal investigation, endorsed by three major United Nations organisations, is now published.
The island states of Eastern Caribbean face serious crime challenges that possibly emanate from the nexus of drug and small arms trafficking. The region is subject to major drug trafficking from South America, while weapons are trafficked in from North America. A current challenge is the increase in homicide rates.
Unarmed security guards at a car dealership are killed by soldiers. CCTV footage of the incident is available, and Prisoners of War (PoWs) have identified the suspect during interviews. How do you plan and prepare for the suspect interview? As the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine unfolds, the number of war crimes under investigation are mounting. In criminal and war crime cases, how do you identify information needs and evidence?
