MONITORING METHODOLOGY ʺʺ The different places where children may be deprived of their liberty, the rules and regulations that govern these places, the authorities responsible for these institutions, their capacity, their regime, the status and different groups of children deprived of their liberty within these places, etc.; ʺʺ The different monitoring bodies operating in these different places where children are deprived of their liberty; their mandate; the extent of their powers; their composition; the date of their last visit; the content of their latest reports and recommendations See – Section 3.5. – p.40; ʺʺ Information on practice and on specific incidents (research, media). B. DEFINING MONITORING OBJECTIVES On the basis of their mandate and the rationale of their function, monitoring bodies shall define clear goals and objectives to their visits. In general, due to the guiding principles (CRC, article 37) that deprivation of liberty of children should be a last resort measure, that can only take place in exceptional cases, with due respect of the best interest of the child and for the shortest possible time, the objectives of the monitoring of places of deprivation of children may be to: ʺʺ Ensure that the deprivation of liberty of children is implemented in conditions respectful of human dignity, safeguarding children’s physical and mental integrity and in compliance with all the rights granted to children by the related international, regional and national standards; ʺʺ Ensure that the objectives assigned to the deprivation of liberty of children, namely education, rehabilitation and reintegration into society are effectively pursued, and that adequate financial and human resources are devoted to that purpose and to post-release care and assistance; ʺʺ Ensure that in case of violation or abuse of their rights, children deprived of liberty can effectively have access to legal assistance and to effective complaint mechanisms; ʺʺ Ensure and reinforce the enforcement of the right of the child to participate – the right to express their views in all matters affecting them, and that those views are heard and given due weight in accordance with the child’s age and maturity. While defining its goals and objectives, each monitoring body must be realistic as to what can realistically be achieved. 49 4