MONITORING PLACES OF DETENTION : A PRACTICAL GUIDE 29 3. BASIC PRINCIPLES OF MONITORING PLACES OF DETENTION Monitoring places of detention through visits is a delicate and sensitive task. For reasons both of ethics and efficiency, it is important that those conducting visits keep in mind and respect a number of basic principles. The following principles are mainly taken from the eighteen basic principles of monitoring identified in the United Nations Training Manual on Human Rights Monitoring4. They have been adapted, when necessary, in order to take into account the specificities of monitoring places of detention. Mechanisms need to develop recruitment strategies, working practices and training that safeguard these core qualities. Peer evaluations have proven instrumental in assuring that these principles are incorporated into the monitoring practice. 1. Do no harm Detainees are particularly vulnerable and their safety should always be kept in mind by visitors, who should not take any action or measure which could endanger an individual or a group. In particular, in cases of allegations of torture or ill-treatment, the principle of confidentiality, security and sensitivity should be kept in mind. Poorly planned or prepared visits, or visits not conducted in respect of the methodology or of the following basic principles, can actually do more harm than good. 4 Chapter V,(pp. 87-93) of the Training Manual on Human Rights Monitoring, Professional Training Series n°7, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations, New York, Geneva, 2001.