DEFENCE FOR CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL (DCI) - Belgium | Practical Guide 1.4. Rationale for the Practical Guide It is well known that regular, external and independent monitoring visits to places of deprivation of liberty are a key instrument to prevent torture and other human rights violations and to protect fundamental rights. However, experience shows that even though a number of national and/or international mechanisms conduct monitoring visits to such places, the research conducted in the framework of the “Children’s Rights Behind Bars” project demonstrates that it is rare for them to focus only on children facilities and/or to have a child-rights approach integrated in their monitoring policy and methodology when visiting children’s facilities. In addition, the monitoring bodies that conduct visits to adult detention facilities are frequently the same ones conducting visits to children’s closed institutions. They often lack specific knowledge, competence and training on child issues, on the specific rules, standards and indicators that apply to the deprivation of liberty of children, and on specific principles and (communication) methods to be used when interviewing children. Child-specific and practical tools to the monitoring of such places are also often not available. This Guide has therefore been designed to address all these concerns by providing a practical tool with a child sensitive and preventive perspective, taking into account all the particular needs and aspects that make the children even more vulnerable to any violations of their rights when they are deprived of their liberty. 20