Adopting a trauma-informed approach is an essential component of ethical documentation, a prerequisite of any Survivor-/Victim Centred Approach.
"A trauma-informed approach is one that is aware of, and responsive to, trauma and its impacts on individuals, their families, and their communities." [1]
Such an approach involves, in particular:
- "Understand[ing] the nature and impact of trauma on survivors of sexual violence
- Adequately address[ing] any trauma-related needs before, during, and after interview[s] […]
- Put[ting] in place strategies to mitigate the possibility of re-traumatization
- Understand[ing] how trauma can affect… memory and testimony…" [2]
A trauma-informed approach also recognises that survivors/victims may have experienced traumatic events linked to crimes, particularly of a sexual or gender-based nature, which may affect their physical, emotional and mental health, well-being and behaviours [3]. As such, it "may require integration of culturally sensitive knowledge about how different people respond to traumatic experiences into policies, procedures, and practices [in order] to avoid doing further harm or causing re-traumatisation" [4].
Given the importance of a trauma-informed approach in all engagement with survivors/victims of crimes and human rights violations — particularly in cases of sexual and gender-based violence — the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) published a guidance manual in 2025. This manual is designed as a training resource.
The training manual [5] identifies five fundamental principles of trauma-informed interviewing:
- "Safety: Creating an atmosphere of physical and psychological safety
- Trustworthiness: Being reliable, predictable, clear and consistent
- Choice and empowerment: Maximizing interviewee’s choice and control over the interview process
- Collaboration: Working with interviewee to achieve interview aims
- Exploration of cultural and gender issues: Adopting an attitude of cultural humility and acknowledging gender issues." [6]
Accordingly, a trauma-informed approach is an essential prerequisite for any intervention that seeks to respect the rights, dignity and well-being of survivors/victims.