MONITORING PLACES OF DETENTION : A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR NGOS 38 NGO back-up strategy: If the authorities concerned refuse to grant access to the persons targeted by the programme, what is the NGO's back-up strategy? ■ more lobbying to make the authorities change their mind; ■ modifying one or more points of the action programme: ➤ change the category of persons deprived of their liberty, the detaining authorities or the type of place of detention targeted; ➤ limit the breadth or implementation of the pro- gramme; ➤ postpone the request for access to the categories of persons which met with direct refusal by the authorities, and negotiate access to less sensitive categories so as to begin monitoring work, which can then be developed in the medium term depending on the possibilities. 2. TYPE OF AUTHORISATION OF ACCESS Official authorisations of access to persons deprived of their liberty can be either in written or in oral form. A written authorisation does not automatically mean that there will not be difficulties of access on the spot. It does, however, have the advantage of being material evidence which can be shown to recalcitrant officials in charge of places of detention. This is particularly useful, even indispensable, in places of detention under the responsibility of the police or security forces and in prisons.