MONITORING PLACES OF DETENTION : A PRACTICAL GUIDE 92 5.3 Follow-up on implementation of recommendations Once the visit reports or the global report have been submitted to other actors, it is important to closely monitor their reaction. The authorities have a duty to react to the report, so they should be given reasonable time to take a position in relation to any criticism or recommendations made. The authorities should enter into a dialogue with the visiting mechanism on the recommendations and their possible implementation. The specific answers and general reaction of the authorities will help the domestic visiting bodies to adapt their visit programme. Visitors can check during subsequent visits whether the official replies correspond to the situation on the ground, and whether any measure or action has been taken. In cases where the authorities display following receipt of the report unwill-ingness to consider the report and recommendations and to take any action, the visiting body should continue its monitoring work. It should consider other strategies for exerting pressure on the authorities, such as approaching parliamentarians, civil society, the media and international organisations. 5.4 Follow-up action outside the monitoring process While visiting places of detention the visiting team confronts many different problems and needs. Visitors will receive many requests such as to provide legal or humanitarian aid, or establish contact with a family member. It is important that the visiting body discusses and adopts a clear policy on how to respond, in order not to raise false expectations. It is the responsibility of the detaining authority to ensure that the needs of the people in their care are met. The primary task of the visiting mechanism will usually be to examine the extent to which this is being done, to raise any problems and to make recommendations for improvement. Nevertheless, some domestic visiting mechanisms, confronted with the specific needs and constraints in their countries, go beyond