1. COLLECTING INFORMATION: FOR WHAT PURPOSE? Tallinn, Estonia, 15-16 June 2011

2. 2 Visits: heart of the NPMs’ mandate Preventive mandate:  visits are proactive  visits are systemic  visits are forward looking  visits are based on a constructive dialogue

3. 3 Why do monitors collect information during the visit? To gain first hand information about the place of detention To update their knowledge on the place visited To cross-check with the information gathered before the visit To make consistant and well-founded recommendations To draw a picture of risk pattern

4. 4 But ultimately… … the information gathered is a component of the monitoring cycle aimed at reducing the risk of torture and other ill-treatment The information is collected and analysed in the broader framework of the prevention of torture and other ill- treatment

5. 5 Preventing monitoring: a process CONFORMITY WITH STANDARDS RECOM- MENDATIONS DIALOGUE VISIT

6. 6 BEFORE the visit… The NPM will have collected and checked information obtained through various sources: –The NPM past data –Ombudsman’s office –Official bodies –NGOs –Academic researches –International sources –The media –Family members, former detainees –Others

7. 7 The information collected and checked before the visit will INFORM the monitors and help them defining their objectives for the visit

8. 8 DURING the visit… Monitors will collect information from various sources: –Registers –Interviews with persons deprived of their liberty –Discussions with the staff and management –The monitors’ own observation –Other documentation –Other sources

9. 9 What do we do….? With all the information collected BEFORE and DURING the visit? How do we process the amount of information gathered and tackle the possible contradictions? How do we know whether we can trust the persons deprived of their liberty, the staff, the registers, our own observations? WE TRIANGULATE/CROSS-CHECK THE INFORMATION

10. 10 Triangulation of Information PATTERNS Own Observation Point of view of authorities, and Others Interviews with detainees

11. 11 AFTER the visit Continuation of the monitoring cycle Continuation of the cross- checking/triangulation of the information gathered Drafting of reports (including recommendations) on the basis of the information previously cross-checked and sifted Follow-up visits

12. 12 Place of detentionManagement Legal Framework Public policies Institutions and actors Going beyond the place of detention

13. 13 Bearing in mind at all times… The « Do no harm » principle « Confidential information collected by the NPM shall be privileged. No personal data shall be published without the express consent of the person concerned ». (OPCAT, Art. 21.2)

14. 14 QUESTIONS? ВОПРОСЫ?