-49 “The NPMs should learn monitoring skills and should apply them systematically and cautiously in their work” 3.MONITORING THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS IN A SITUATION OF VULNERABILITY IN PRISONS Looking at the systematic causes for the problems of the prisoners in a situation of vulnerability, we can divide them into two groups. The first is associated with general social attitudes, which are transferred and even amplified in the prison. Stereotypes, prejudices, attitudes of social distance towards certain groups in society are often instrumentalized into discriminatory behaviour on part of both the prison staff and the prisoners. The environment in a closed institution is conducive to such instrumentalization. The second group concerns prison environment. The overwhelming majority of prisons are built and organized without regard to the specific needs of vulnerable groups, e.g. due to the lower level of criminality among women and juveniles, in many countries women and juvenile offenders are imprisoned away from their families. Few prisons can accommodate persons with physical disabilities, and fewer still offer appropriate environments for persons with mental disorders. Prison staff in prisons accommodating big numbers of foreigners are rarely equipped to deal with the linguistic diversity and address the religious needs of all prisoners. Accommodation in many prisons presents serious safety threats to LGBTIQ and other stigmatized groups of prisoners. Prisoners and groups of prisoners in a situation of vulnerability face serious challenges before the prison staff. Their situation often generates human rights violations and undermines the quality of life in prison. This creates or contributes to the creation of a tense atmosphere and undermines relationships of trust between staff and prisoners. Such an atmosphere on its part contributes to further abuses. It is also a serious obstacle to prison monitoring. Prisoners in a Situation of Vulnerability