MONITORING PLACES OF DETENTION : A PRACTICAL GUIDE ■ propose original solutions to certain problems; ■ contribute to development of the standards. 67 d) Follow-up on the implementation of recommendations The ultimate aim in monitoring places of detention is to encourage the authorities to improve the treatment of detainees and the conditions of detention. Visiting places of detention and reporting are only the means to achieve this objective. Accordingly following up the implementation of the recommendations made is possibly the most important step in the monitoring process. When improvements are made they should be welcomed. When no measures are taken, the visiting mechanism should seek other ways of exerting pressure for implementation. 2. ESTABLISHING A MONITORING PROGRAMME 2.1 Establishing a programme of visits The visiting programme should contain the following points: ■ ■ ■ ■ a list of places holding the categories of persons deprived of their liberty that the domestic visiting body is targeting; if the visits should be announced or not; the order in which the places will be visited; the intended length of each visit; the frequency with which visits will be repeated. 2.2 Choosing the places Depending on the situation, the visiting body will decide to make regular visits to all places of detention or a selection.