DEFENCE FOR CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL (DCI) - Belgium | Practical Guide 3.5. Overview of different monitoring mechanisms A range of different organisations or bodies may be involved in monitoring facilities where children can be deprived of their liberty. Each mechanism can provide different perspectives, vision and functionality as well as complement each other provided that they communicate and cooperate effectively. What we see in practice is that there are often many monitoring mechanisms but little or none solely dedicated to monitoring places where children are deprived of their liberty or using a child-rights based approach or that have a particular department or agent specifically assigned to that task. Yet, the special status of children deprived of their liberty require either a separate and specific monitoring body or special arrangements within an existing body to reflect specific needs, particular vulnerability and gravity of rights violations children may experience in these circumstances. A. INTERNATIONAL MECHANISMS International bodies have been established with a mandate to visit all places of deprivation of liberty – including those where children can be found - and to report to governments on their findings. The United Nations: The Sub-Committee on Prevention to Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (SPT) The SPT established under the OPCAT, can carry out regular visits to all places where people are deprived of their liberty, with no prior authorisation from the State Party concerned and no prior information regarding its programme of visits. Afterwards, the SPT provides a confidential report including recommendations to the State Party concerned and, if relevant, to the NPM. The confidential report can be published upon the State’s initiative. Recommendations are not binding but States have to examine them and enter in dialogue in relation with their implementation. If the State Party refuses to be cooperative, the Committee against Torture may adopt a public statement or publish the report, at the suggestion of the SPT. 40