MONITORING PLACES OF DETENTION : A PRACTICAL GUIDE 123 INFORMING THE DETAINEES Standards “Any person shall, at the moment of arrest and at the commencement of detention or imprisonment, or promptly thereafter, be provided by the authority responsible for his arrest, detention or imprisonment, respectively with information on and an explanation of his rights and how to avail himself of such rights.” BPP; Principle 13 “1. Every prisoner on admission shall be provided with written information about the regulations governing the treatment of prisoners of his category, the disciplinary requirements of the institution, the authorized methods of seeking information and making complaints, and all such other matters as are necessary to enable him to understand both his rights and his obligations and to adapt himself to the life of the institution. 2. If a prisoner is illiterate, the aforesaid information shall be conveyed to him orally.” SRM, Rule 35; (similar wording in EPR, Rule 41) “States should ensure that all detained person are informed immediately of the reasons for their detention” RIG, provision 25 See also ACPR, A-9 and IDRCPDL, art. 53. Comments The visiting team should examine the extent to which detainees are informed of their rights and obligations; the appropriateness of the method of conveying this information; the extent to which prisoners understand and have subsequent access to the information. Detainees may be confused and vulnerable when they first arrive 2