MONITORING MECHANISMS OF PLACES WHERE CHILDREN ARE DEPRIVED OF THEIR LIBERTY 3.4. Basic principles for monitoring � DO NO HARM � KNOW THE STANDARDS � RESPECT FOR THE AUTHORITIES � CREDIBILITY � CONFIDENTIALITY � SECURITY � SENSITIVITY � OBJECTIVITY � VISIBILITY Monitoring places where children are deprived of their liberty should be conducted in accordance with basic principles. In this context, it is fundamental that those who conduct such visits understand, keep in mind and respect the series of basic ethical principles, which are listed below 3. A. DO NO HARM Often when monitoring a place of deprivation of liberty for children there is a conflict of interest between the need to obtain information and the safety of the children deprived of their liberty, for example, the risk of reprisals for those who may be interviewed, or the risk of psychological and emotional harm or trauma caused by an inappropriate interview. When carrying out monitoring visits, the safety of the children in the facility must be paramount and prioritised at all times. No action by the visiting body should jeopardize this. B. KNOW THE STANDARDS Monitors must have a good knowledge of the international, regional and national standards, both those which provide their mandate to monitor, and those which set out the appropriate treatment and conditions of the facilities to be visited. 3  These principles are mainly inspired by the 18 basic principles of monitoring identifies in Chapter V of OHCHR (2001), “Training Manual on Human Rights Monitoring”, Professional Training Series No. 7, UN – See these principles in more details in APT, “Monitoring places of detention – a practical Guide”, (2004), pages 27 to 32. 37 3