MONITORING PLACES OF DETENTION : A PRACTICAL GUIDE 106 system for the protection of human rights, Human Rights Centre, University of Essex, United Kingdom, 2000. Part II – Documenting allegations, pp. 29 to 51; 1 ■ United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Professional Training Series no. 8; Istanbul Protocol, Manual on the Effective investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, New York, Geneva, 2001. Chapter IV- General considerations for interviews It is not the role of the visitor to decide whether the treatment alleged constitutes torture. Allegations of torture or ill-treatment should be transmitted, barring any serious doubts as to their veracity, to the authorities responsible for investigation (administrative and penal), with the above-mentioned precautions regarding representations made in the name of individuals, and following a procedure which does not endanger the person concerned by the allegation. The burden of proof, that is, the responsibility for establishing the truth of the allegation by means of an appropriate investigation, lies with the authorities in charge, not the alleged victim. Information that visitors may gather in cases of allegations of ill-treatment: ■ full identity of the person; ■ date when and place where the allegation was noted; ■ detaining authorities; ■ date and place of ill-treatment; ■ authorities responsible for the ill-treatment; ■ circumstances of the ill-treatment; ■ witnesses to the acts;