Vietnam's Law Enforcement Adopts Science-Based Interviewing Standards with UNDP Support
Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security conducted a training program in Nha Trang for 49 trainers from police academies, universities, and law enforcement institutions to implement the Méndez Principles on investigative interviewing. The principles emphasize accurate information gathering grounded in science, human rights, and legality, with particular attention to interviewing vulnerable populations including children. The initiative, supported by UNDP, Norway, and the European Union, aims to strengthen Vietnam's compliance with the UN Convention against Torture and build public trust in the justice system.
Vietnam ratified the UN Convention against Torture in 2015, positioning the Ministry of Public Security as the lead agency for implementing related reforms. The Méndez Principles represent an international framework designed to shift investigative practices away from coercive methods toward approaches grounded in scientific evidence and human rights compliance. This training initiative employed a cascading model, converting 49 senior officers into institutional trainers who would then disseminate these techniques across police academies, universities, and operational units nationwide, multiplying the program's reach beyond the initial participants.
The adoption of science-based interviewing standards could strengthen investigative reliability and reduce false confessions or unreliable testimony that undermines justice outcomes. Training law enforcement to prioritize rapport-building and proper questioning techniques—particularly when interviewing children and vulnerable persons—may help protect at-risk populations from coercive practices. Broader implementation across Vietnam's security institutions could potentially improve public confidence in the justice system and align investigative conduct with international human rights obligations, though sustained institutional change would require consistent follow-through and oversight.