Author:

Keywords:

Interpreter mediated questioning of minors (ImQM) - vulnerability - teamwork - interprofessional joint training - refugee crisis

Abstract:

The expertise we want to share with the audience of the University of Jaume I consists mainly in showing the concrete impact of research on society; more specifically, we will show the impact of the CO-Minor-IN/QUEST project (Cooperation in Interpreter-Mediated Questioning of Minors - JUST/2011/JPEN/AG/2961) showing the different steps of the path from research to society. CO-Minor-IN/QUEST is the first research project that has focused on interviewing children in the pre-trial phase of criminal cases, particularly with the assistance of an interpreter. This very specific setting involves a multi-disciplinary team: behavioural scientists, psychologists, psychiatrists, legal actors (lawyers, police officers and examining magistrates) and interpreters which – as a team - even becomes more necessary when children appear to be extremely vulnerable (having a mental or physical impairment, belonging to minorities, etc.). We will briefly discuss methodological issues, findings and results and new challenges uncovered by the CO-Minor-IN/QUEST project. Furthermore, we will explain how the consortium of the Co-Minor-IN/QUEST II project (JUST/2015/JTRA/AG/EJTR/8678) intends to build further on the expertise gained by designing inter-professional joint training modules which will involve all stakeholders of ImQM. The first inter-professional training with interpreters and police officers at the Belgian Federal police (child hearings section) will serve as a case in point. The ultimate goal is to organize joint training not only for professionals but also (and mostly) for would-be professionals of all domains in society, in other words for not only for the students who will become interpreters but also for those who will become lawyers, nurses, doctors, psychologists, social workers and so on. This presentation hopes to state that more effective interdisciplinary research will increase inter-professional cooperation on the shop floor which is highly necessary for all vulnerable minors that need their professional support, especially in the light of the recent refugee crisis.