Training program promotes the values of the Méndez Principles in investigation and information-gathering activities
WVR - On September 22, in Khanh Hoa Province, the Ministry of Public Security, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Vietnam, organized the “Training Program for Core Trainers – Guidelines for Implementing the Méndez Principles in Vietnam”. This activity aims to continue the serious implementation of the Party and State's policies on ensuring human rights and enforcing the United Nations Convention Against Torture (CAT).
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| Overview of the “Training Program for Core Trainers – Guidelines for Implementing the Méndez Principles in Vietnam”. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
Attending the training program were: Colonel Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong, Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Security; Ms. Francesca Nardini, Deputy Resident Representative of the UNDP in Vietnam.
Representing Khanh Hoa Province was Colonel Pham Anh Tuan, Deputy Director of Khanh Hoa Provincial Police. Also in attendance were representatives from the Embassies of Switzerland, Norway, and the Netherlands; along with lecturers and officers from academies, universities, and research institutes within the People's Public Security force, professional units of the Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of National Defense; law training institutions, and domestic and international experts.
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| Colonel Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong, Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Security, delivers the opening speech at the training program. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
In her opening speech, Colonel Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong, Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Security, stated that Vietnam has been a member of the United Nations Convention Against Torture since March 7, 2015. As the coordinating agency, the Ministry of Public Security has been seriously and actively implementing the tasks under the Convention.
According to Colonel Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong, the approach of the Méndez Principles emphasizes the accurate collection of information, guiding interrogation activities based on scientific, legal, and human rights principles, thereby minimizing the use of coercive or inappropriate measures.
From there, the training course focuses on three main objectives:
Firstly, introducing the core content of the Méndez Principles while clarifying their application in line with the realities and legal regulations of Vietnam.
Secondly, building and developing a team of core trainers with sufficient capacity, knowledge, and skills to continue implementing training programs at police units and localities, contributing to the effective dissemination and application of the Méndez Principles in practice.
Thirdly, contributing to improving the quality and effectiveness of investigation activities, particularly in interrogation and information gathering; thereby effectively fulfilling Vietnam's obligations under the United Nations Convention Against Torture.
Colonel Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong expressed hope that the delegates, especially those directly involved in teaching and investigating, will demonstrate a spirit of responsibility, actively exchange, discuss, share practical experiences, and effectively participate in the practical content throughout the training course.
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| Ms. Francesca Nardini, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Vietnam, speaks at the program. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
Ms. Francesca Nardini, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Vietnam, emphasised that the Méndez Principles are built on the premise that effective interviewing should be based on interaction and not on coercive measures. This is both a requirement for ensuring human rights and a contribution to enhancing professional quality and expertise.
According to Ms. Francesca Nardini, as Vietnam prepares for the Committee Against Torture's review of its second national report, the skills developed through the training course are concrete evidence of progress in transforming Vietnam's commitments into professional standards in practice.
This initiative also aligns with Vietnam's priorities, especially the spirit of Resolution No. 27, aiming to ensure the supremacy of the Constitution and the law, protecting human rights and citizens' rights by 2030.
Ms. Francesca Nardini believes that preventing mistreatment and enhancing investigative effectiveness require the participation of the entire system, from investigators, detention management officers, prosecutors, defense lawyers to forensic, medical experts, and judicial bodies. Training core trainers contributes to forming a common professional language, facilitating enhanced coordination among stakeholders.
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| From September 22-24, the training program takes place in Khanh Hoa, equipping trainers with the necessary knowledge, skills, and methods to effectively implement the Méndez Principles in interrogation and investigative interviewing. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
Notably, through training core trainers, the program not only provides knowledge within the course framework but also contributes to building a team of Vietnamese experts capable of further promoting the implementation of standards, integrating them into training programs, professional guidance, and disseminating them to colleagues nationwide.
After the training course, delegates will continue to implement training activities in phases, bringing standards into practice. According to Ms. Francesca Nardini, this is a process of transforming awareness and understanding into institutional capacity, thereby promoting sustainable reform. The program's success will be reflected when good practices become regular practices and are applied as a standard in daily work.
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| Colonel Pham Anh Tuan, Deputy Director of Khanh Hoa Provincial Police, speaks at the program. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
Representing Khanh Hoa Province, Colonel Pham Anh Tuan, Deputy Director of Khanh Hoa Provincial Police, stated that this is a practical activity, helping officers directly involved in investigation and information gathering to access advanced methods and skills, while also exchanging practical experiences between units and localities.
From practical work, Colonel Pham Anh Tuan emphasised that interrogation, questioning, and information gathering must comply with the law, respecting the legal rights and interests of participants in proceedings. Collected information needs to be objectively and comprehensively checked, evaluated, and supported by documents and evidence; confessions should not be the sole basis for concluding criminal acts.
Colonel Pham Anh Tuan suggested enhancing specialized training programs focused on practical interrogation and investigative interviewing skills; concentrating on skills in preparation, building cooperative relationships, questioning, verifying information, and working with minors and vulnerable individuals.
At the same time, it is necessary to study and appropriately apply the content of the Méndez Principles with Vietnamese law and practice; develop guidance documents, practical scenarios, and a unified training program for core trainers. Training activities should be regularly maintained, associated with evaluation and learning from practice.
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| Delegates take a group photo. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
Taking place from September 22-24, the “Training Program for Core Trainers – Guidelines for Implementing the Méndez Principles in Vietnam” aims to equip trainers with the necessary knowledge, skills, and methods to effectively implement the Méndez Principles in interrogation and investigative interviewing. The training course combines theoretical knowledge, legal foundations, practical skills, and pedagogical methods, aiming to build a team of core trainers capable of further disseminating and implementing the Méndez Principles in Vietnam.
| The Méndez Principles are an international standard for effective interviewing in investigation and information gathering, published in 2021, named after Argentine lawyer Juan E. Méndez, former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture. The principles were developed to promote the replacement of coercive interrogation methods with scientifically, legally, and ethically based interviewing techniques. These are not legally binding international treaties but serve as a reference framework for countries to apply according to their conditions, while also supporting the implementation of the CAT Convention and human rights standards. The core of the Méndez Principles is the shift from “interrogation” to “investigative interviewing”, focusing on collecting accurate, reliable, and verifiable information instead of seeking confessions. This approach emphasises cooperation, respect for the rights and dignity of the interviewee, and minimizes the impact of stress and coercion on the ability to provide information. International practice shows that this model can contribute to enhancing evidence quality, reducing the risk of forced confessions, torture, and wrongful convictions, while effectively combining investigation with human rights protection. |
