MONITORING PLACES OF DETENTION : A PRACTICAL GUIDE 52 Adequate resources Financial autonomy is a fundamental criterion, without which national preventive mechanisms would not be able to exercise independence in decision-making. The national preventive mechanism should be financially and independently capable of performing its basic functions. The Paris Principles stress the need for adequate funding which “should enable it to have its own staff and premises, in order to be independent of the Government and not to be subject to financial control”. (Principle 2) 3.2.5 Access to places where persons are deprived of their liberty Under the OPCAT, the national preventive mechanisms must be allowed access to places where people are deprived of their liberty. Certain guarantees are to be assured in order for the national mechanisms to function effectively. National mechanisms must be granted (Art. 20): ■ Access to all places of detention, including their installations and facilities, of their choice; ■ Access to all information concerning the number of persons deprived of their liberty; ■ Access to all information relating to the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty as well as their conditions of detention; ■ Access to conduct private interviews with persons deprived of their liberty, with their consent and without witnesses, and with any persons of their choosing. The authorities must also guarantee that persons coming into contact with the visiting team are not subjected to pressure, threats or ill-treatment by way of reprisal.