Principles on Effective Interviewing for Investigations and Information Gathering

The Principles on Effective Interviewing for Investigations and Information Gathering or the "Méndez Principles" aim to modify police practices by replacing coercive interrogations with rapport-based interviews.

Based on science, law, and ethics, the Méndez Principles propose a concrete alternative to interrogation methods that rely on coercion to extract confessions. They improve the results of investigations, fully respect human rights and enhance trust in the State.

Download the Principles

/sites/default/files/publications/apt_PoEI_EN_11.pdf

English

/sites/default/files/publications/apt_PoEI_SPA_04.pdf

Spanish

https://www.apt.ch/sites/default/files/2023-10/20102022_apt_poei_fr_v05.pdf

French

/sites/default/files/publications/apt_PoEI_POR_03.pdf

Portuguese

/sites/default/files/publications/apt_PoEI_MAL_01_0.pdf

Malay

/sites/default/files/publications/apt_PoEI_FIL_02.pdf

Filipino

/sites/default/files/publications/Final_apt_PoEI_Ar.pdf

Arabic

/sites/default/files/publications/Principles_Thai.pdf

Thai

/sites/default/files/publications/PoEI_final_RUSSIAN_merged.pdf

Russian

/sites/default/files/publications/PoEI_final_CHINESE_merged.pdf

Chinese

/sites/default/files/2023-08/publikacija_2_finalne_korekcijeb5_003.pdf

Bosnian/Serbian/Croatian

tihek-hreit_turkish_translation_of_mendez_principles_principles_on_effective_interviewing_for_investigations_and_information_gathering.pdf (1.54 MB)

Turkish

the-mendez-principles-indonesian_korrekt.pdf (1.42 MB)

Latvian

the-mendez-principles-indonesian_korrekt.pdf (1.42 MB)

Indonesian

mendez_principles_de_web.pdf (925.87 KB)

German

Six core principles

Principle 1

On foundations
Effective interviewing is instructed by science, law and ethics.

Principle 2

On practice
Effective interviewing is a comprehensive process for gathering accurate and reliable information while implementing associated legal safeguards.

Principle 3

On vulnerability
Effective interviewing requires identifying and addressing the needs of interviewees in situations of vulnerability.

Principle 4

On training
Effective interviewing is a professional undertaking that requires specific training.

Principle 5

On accountability
Effective interviewing requires transparent and accountable institutions.

Principle 6

On implementation
The implementation of effective interviewing requires robust national measures.

Resolutions and other references

Welcome the collaboration between practitioners, experts and other relevant stakeholders on the elaboration of a set of international guidelines for non-coercive interviewing methods and procedural safeguards in this regard.

United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice - Kyoto Declaration

Emphasizes the importance of States’ keeping under systematic review rules, instructions, methods and practices on interviewing, as well as arrangements for the custody and treatment of persons subjected to any form of arrest, detention or imprisonment under their jurisdiction, including by taking into account, as appropriate, the Principles on Effective Interviewing for Investigations and Information Gathering (the Méndez Principles)

United Nations General Assembly Third Committee - Resolution on Administration of Justice A/RES/77/219

The Principles on Effective Interviewing for Investigation and Information Gathering, or the Méndez Principles, provide a set of non-binding but authoritative guidance on non-coercive interviewing processes and standards. They endorse human rights-compliant interviewing methods that reject coercive, accusatory, and abusive techniques.

United Nations Manual on Investigative Interviewing for Criminal Investigation, 2024, para. 5.1.

Welcomes the Principles on Effective Interviewing for Investigations and Information Gathering - also known as the "Méndez Principles”. Encourages State Parties to the African Charter to support the use of the six Méndez Principles as a useful framework for preventing torture and other ill-treatment during hearings and interviews

African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights - Resolution ACHPR/Res.545 (LXXIII)

Takes note with appreciation of the Principles on Effective Interviewing for Investigations and Information Gathering (the Méndez Principles), and encourages States to use them as appropriate through the implementation of national measures, including non-coercive interviewing methods and procedural safeguards, thereby operationalizing the presumption of innocence, ensuring that no person is subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment during questioning, as well as improving effective policing, criminal justice investigations, prosecutions, convictions and other forms of information-gathering processes

United Nations General Assembly Third Committee - Resolution on Torture, A/RES/77/209

Download resolutions and other references

Testimonials

UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counterterrorism, Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, explains how the Méndez Principles ensure the presumption of innocence and the pursuit of truth during counterterrorism investigations.

Read her full blog

Eko Novan Prasetyo Puspito, Head of the Subdirectorate for Economic Crime in the Special Crimes Unit at the Metropolitan Police, Jakarta, Indonesia, shares his experience when he first learned about investigative interviewing and how it changed his perspective on solving cases.

The challenge today, he says, is to change the mindset of detectives so the focus is on gathering reliable evidence. This will also help build public trust and confidence in the police.

Watch more testimonies from law enforcement