and so on. Informal interactions with custodial staff should also be encouraged. Monitoring bodies and the courts pay particular attention to the level and quality of human contact afforded to isolated prisoners and will be more inclined to find a violation of human rights law where these are lacking. Contact with the outside world Human rights law emphasises the importance of enabling prisoners to maintain contact with the outside world. This requirement covers visits by family and friends, access to written and broadcast media and various forms of communication including letters and the telephone. Where prisoners are held in solitary confinement and enjoy little human interaction and few social contacts, these requirements become all the more important. Contacts with family, friends, and the community are not only important factors for prisoners’ wellbeing, but have also been shown to be important factors in positively influencing prisoners’ behaviour and improving their chances of successful reintegration upon release from prison59. Family contacts Article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) stipulates that No one shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence... The right to family life is also protected under Article 11 of the American Convention on Human Rights and Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. It has been established that, notwithstanding limitations inherent in prison life, prisoners retain the right to family life and prison authorities have a duty to assist them in maintaining close family contacts (Messina (No.2) v. Italy, 2000). Prisoners’ right to respect for their family life through visits and communications is further established in several international instruments: Prisoners shall be allowed under necessary supervision to communicate with their family and reputable friends at regular intervals, both by correspondence and by receiving visits (SMR Rule 37. See also: SMR Rule 79; Principle 19 of the Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons Under any Form of Detention or Imprisonment; EPR (2006 Rev) Rule 24). To encourage family ties, where possible, prisoners should be housed in a prison close to their home (Body of Principles, Principle 20). Visits should take place in specially designated areas which should be appropriately furnished, clean and well maintained. It is good practice to allow for contact visits (i.e. not held through a glass partition) between the prisoner and their visitor(s), particularly when the visitor is a child. Visitors should be treated with respect and must not be subjected to unnecessary security procedures. 46 Sourcebook on solitary confinement: Design, physical conditions and regime in solitary confinement units