MONITORING PLACES OF DETENTION : A PRACTICAL GUIDE 93 the strict task of monitoring and reporting. Some follow up their observations by providing legal aid in individual cases, while others provide humanitarian aid and develop training activities for personnel as well as detainees. In some countries visiting bodies’ involvement in follow-up extends to taking part in revising national legislation. The OPCAT expressly states that national preventive mechanisms should have the mandate to “submit proposals and observations concerning existing or draft legislation” (art. 19 c). Some domestic visiting mechanisms, in particular national human rights institutions, have “quasi-judicial” powers. They not only receive complaints but also investigate them and bring cases to court. Some visiting bodies can order the release of detainees and/or payment of compensation to those whose rights have been violated. Further reading United Nations, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Professional Training Series n°7, Training Manual on Human Rights Monitoring, New York, Geneva, 2001. (Chapter IX: Visits to persons in detention) Giffard, Camille, The Torture Reporting Handbook- How to document and respond to allegations of torture within the international system for the protection of human rights, Human Rights Centre, University of Essex, United Kingdom, 2000. United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Professional Training Series no. 8, Istanbul Protocol, Manual on the Effective investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, New York, Geneva, 2001. APT/OSCE-ODIHR, Monitoring places of detention: a practical guide for NGOs, Geneva, 2002.