We have a number of resources to support monitoring bodies, including National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs).
Detention Monitoring Tool: Addressing risk factors to prevent torture and ill-treatment
This Tool was developed with the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) to provide practical guidance to help monitoring bodies conduct effective visits to places of detention.
The Tool contains thematic papers, which analyse broader themes that will benefit from a comprehensive monitoring approach, and short factsheets which provide practical guidance on how monitoring bodies can focus on a number of systemic issues that are particularly high risk factors for torture or ill-treatment.
Please note that the English versions of the following papers were updated in 2015 to reflect changes in the revised Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules). 2nd editions in other languages will follow.
Thematic papers
Institutional culture in detention: a framework for preventive monitoring
How monitoring bodies can identify aspects of culture in places of detention which make torture and ill-treatment more likely.
English, Russian, Georgian, French, Spanish, Tajik, Uzbek
Women in detention: a guide to gender-sensitive monitoring
How monitoring bodies can incorporate a gender perspective into their work.
English, Russian, Arabic, Georgian, French, Spanish, Tajik, Uzbek
LGBTI persons deprived of their liberty: a framework for preventive monitoring
How monitoring bodies can address discrimination and abuse in detention on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
English, Russian, French, Spanish, Portuguese
Older persons in detention: A framework for preventive monitoring
How monitoring bodies can address systemic risk factors for older persons in detention, with a focus on prevention of torture and other ill-treatment.
Balancing security and dignity in detention: a framework for preventive monitoring
How an overemphasis on ‘security’ can contribute to an environment where torture and ill-treatment occur.
English, Russian, French, Spanish, Turkish, Tajik, Uzbek
Protecting Human Rights in Prisons while Preventing Radicalization Leading to Terrorism or Violence: A Guide for Detention Monitors
Published together with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), this guide looks in detail at a number of specific human rights risk areas in preventing and combatting VERLT in a prison context, giving guidance to detention monitors.
Factsheets
Body searches
English, Russian, French, Spanish
Incident management and independent investigations
Instruments of restraint
English, Russian, French, Spanish
Pre-trial detention
English, Russian, French, Spanish
Staff working conditions
English, Russian, French, Spanish
Video-recording in police custody
English, Russian, French, Spanish
The Tool also includes a User Guide (available in English and Russian) which explains why the Tool was developed and how it can be used to support preventive monitoring mechanisms.
This Tool was developed under PRI’s 2010-2013 project funded by the European Union to counter torture in prisons and other places of deprivation of liberty in nine former Soviet Union countries.
Factsheet on Preventive Monitoring
This factsheet outlines why independent external monitoring of places of detention is essential to counter torture and abuse. It briefly explains the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture and lists the crucial elements of detention monitoring.