MONITORING PLACES OF DETENTION : A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR NGOS 32 1.2. The NGO's resources Monitoring of conditions of detention is a preventive mechanism which can help protect detainees only if it is repeated regularly. Such a programme therefore needs to have sufficient human and financial resources for the long-term. Depending on the objectives that it has set itself, does the NGO have the necessary resources in terms of: ■ number of staff: permanent members as well as extra, temporary staff to guarantee repetition of visits and ability to respond to emergencies? professional skills: to deal with the legal, medical, social, and material aspects of detention? ■ Does the NGO have the financial means necessary to cover the running costs of a programme for a certain length of time? 1.3. Action priorities of the NGO Monitoring the conditions of detention of all persons deprived of their liberty nation-wide is an immense task which requires, in addition to political will on the part of the authorities, considerable means not within the reach of all NGOs. The NGO must therefore define its priorities and limit its action according to the mission that it has assigned itself, the means it has available, and the attitude of the authorities toward the work of human rights NGOs and protection activities already carried out by other players. Reason would dictate that those persons deprived of their liberty who are most cut off from the outside world, and thus most at risk of