MONITORING PLACES OF DETENTION : A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR NGOS 28 Report to the United Nations General Assembly by the Special Rapporteur on the question of torture; A/56/156, 3 July 2001, §39 (e) “In its actions against torture the European Union will urge third countries to take, inter alia, the following measures: • Allow domestic visiting mechanisms • Allow visits by suitably qualified representatives of civil society to places where persons deprived of their liberty are held.” Guidelines to EU policy towards third countries on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, 9 April 2001. “OSCE participating States are encouraged to allow for comprehensive civil society monitoring of all places of custody.” “OSCE participating States should consider providing for a firm legal basis for NGO monitoring places of custody, including pre-trial facilities and police detention facilities. In the absence of a clear legal basis authorities should use their discretionary powers to allow for civil society monitoring.” OSCE Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting on Prison Reform, Vienna, 8-9 July 2002