Integrating the Issue of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Detention Monitoring • Are detainee cells single or shared – occupancy? Are there separate cells for women, men and juveniles in the facility? • Are there CCTV cameras in the facility? Are these in good working order? Are there any “blind spots”, where abuse would not be recorded? • Is information about how to contact lawyers, family and friends clearly visible to detainees/prisoners in police custody, in different languages, as appropriate? Are working telephones available in the police station? • Is there any information clearly visible to detainees/prisoners about SGBV support services, or what they can do if they have been a victim of SGBV? • Is there a buzzer in each cell that detainees can use to call if they need help? • Are there any medical facilities in the police station or any way for detainees to access medical assistance or basic medicines? Evaluating arrest and detention procedures Information from authorities Staff involved in arrest and detention may reveal information about the occurrence of SGBV in custody and the measures in place to prevent SGBV. When interviewing staff, monitors should try to establish the following: • Are authorities responsible for detention separate from those responsible for interrogation? • Are there any risk and needs assessments in place for police custody detention, including in relation to cell allocation? • Does the staff culture tolerate SGBV? Information from detainees/prisoners It may be difficult for monitoring mechanisms to speak safely to those still held in police custody about their experiences of SGBV, mainly because of the associated risks, but also because detainees tend to be held in custody for short periods of time. It may, therefore, be easier to obtain such information from those who have already been transferred to prison, or from those who have been released from detention. Monitors could try to establish the following: • At what stage of arrest were detainees able to contact their lawyer/family/friend/ other contact person? • Were lawyers allowed to be present during their interrogation? • Did they experience any SGBV, including verbal abuse and threats, during arrest, detention and interrogation? If so, additional information should be provided. 39