Vasiliauskienė, Violeta

Interviews conducted across the world by police and other law enforcement agencies with suspects, victims and witnesses are crucially important in determining criminal justice outcomes. Several Member countries have developed (or are developing) an ethical approach termed ‘investigative interviewing’ that aims to obtain detailed and reliable information while respecting human rights. This approach is consistent with the 2021 United Nations Declaration of the ‘Principles of Effective Interviewing’. However, law enforcement agencies in most countries remain unaware of the investigative interviewing approach, undertaking unethical practices characterized by guilt presumption and confession orientation that often rely on psychological manipulation, intimidation or physical torture and can lead to miscarriages of justice and failed investigations. This Action involves convening regional and in-country networks of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers working with each other and the Action Team to enable wider implementation of the ‘Mendez Principles’.

The current security situation in Europe demonstrates well the need for a MA program which will provide the knowledge on hybrid threats. Main objectives of this Project are aiming to develop a research-based comprehensive international Curriculum enabling the delivery of a Masters’ course with the specific focus on tackling hybrid threats. The Curriculum would include study materials on each topic. In addition, the system for the uptake of micro- qualifications/credentials would be developed.

The planned activities are multi-folded: first, a scientific research agenda will be developed promoting thus the research of hybrid threats and related topics in a systematic manner.

Second, Project Partners’ academic staff members will attend training on hybrid threats.

Third, the Curriculum development which forms the core of this Project. The Curriculum would be available for EU and non-EU training institutions for the implementation and future integration into national Masters’ studies.

Main results of this project are: 9 scientific articles dedicated to hybrid threats; a ready-made Masters’ Course Curriculum in line with EQF level 7 requirements; the methodology and study materials for students; and the system for micro qualifications/credentials uptake.

This project would provide new knowledge and skills for academic staff members enabling recognizing and tackling hybrid threats, as well as personal experiences gained during the project implementation.