ANNEX – International and regional human rights systems from the government, the Special Rapporteur may inquire further or make recommendations. All communications sent and received throughout the year are listed in an annual report, along with further recommendations and general comments as appropriate, including recommendations about measures which should be taken in order to eradicate torture. The Special Rapporteur also undertakes visits to countries that extend an invitation following his request. The country missions constitute an important means of monitoring and of having a dialogue with both state authorities and civil society. The Special Rapporteur invites and seeks the views of civil society groups and individuals on the country-specific situation and on steps that need to be taken in order to improve conditions. The power of the Special Rapporteur lies with the Human Rights Council, and the public nature of the procedure. His conclusions are not legally binding and he has no powers of enforcement. Nonetheless, not many states are immune to public condemnation, and the publicity of his findings creates pressure for states to co-operate by introducing reforms or otherwise implementing his recommendations. (For more details on the information that should be included in a communication to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture, see the model questions on the website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights,189 or The Torture Reporting Handbook (http://www.essex.ac.uk/torturehandbook/handbook(english-complete).doc) at page 92.) b. Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee against Torture Following the entry into force of the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention against Torture,190 the Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee against Torture191 47 has been established to conduct visits to places of detention in the territory of State Parties.192 States must also establish, designate or maintain independent “national preventative mechanisms” to conduct periodic visits to places of detention and formulate recommendations to national authorities for improvement in protection afforded to detainees. The Optional Protocol also stipulates specific criteria to ensure the effectiveness and functional independence of such national preventative mechanisms. (The Optional Protocol entered into force on 22 June 2006. To see the status of ratification go to: http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx? s r c = T R E AT Y& m t d sg _ n o = I V- 9 - b & c h a p t e r =4 &lang=en). c. International Committee of the Red Cross The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a neutral and independent organisation which acts primarily in the context of armed conflict, but also in situations of violence and political unrest. Its headquarters are based in Geneva, Switzerland, but it has field delegations in many countries where its activities are required, usually through an agreement with the governing authorities. One of its functions in these contexts is to act as a neutral intermediary between detainees and their detaining authorities. Its representatives carry out visits to places of detention where persons are held in connection with the conflict or unrest, and examine the conditions of detention and treatment and interview detainees about their experiences in detention. They require access to all places of detention where detainees falling within their field of activity are kept, as well as the opportunity to interview the detainees themselves in private. In return, they maintain absolute confidentiality about what they observe during such visits. Because of its special mandate and methods of work, the ICRC is often able to gain access to plac-