9. Monitoring Efforts To Prevent And Respond To Sgbv Access to the outside world is also vital to preventing retaliatory action and further abuse against those who have made complaints of SGBV, to ensuring that they receive appropriate counselling and support, and to ensuring that the complaint is being properly followed up. Perpetrators of SGBV are less likely to target individuals who they know can report the abuse, or who appear to be less vulnerable because they have external support. Potential perpetrators may also be less likely to commit violent acts if they themselves have regular contact with family, friends and others. Contact with the outside world is particularly important in situations where the risk of SGBV is intensified, such as in the early stages of arrest and detention, or if the detainee/prisoner has been segregated from others. Some groups, including women, juveniles and foreign nationals, may have specific needs when it comes to ensuring meaningful contact with the outside world. Situations of contact between detainees/prisoners and their family member, friends, lawyers and others, may also pose a risk of SGBV for either the detainee/prisoner or their visitor, particularly during private visits. Prisons should, therefore, conduct risk assessments based on the nature of the visit to balance the potential risks of abuse with the right of privacy. The right to conjugal visits might act to prevent SGBV, but might also present risk factors that need to be addressed. Procedures should be in place and premises made available with due regard to safety and dignity. Detainees/prisoners and their visitors will also be able to provide information about their own experiences of prison visiting or other forms of communication, including whether the arrangements would allow for detainees/prisoners to safely report instances of SGBV. Monitors can also get a sense of how different forms of communication are organized and the levels of privacy and confidentiality in place through direct observation and from their own interactions with detainees/prisoners. During inspections, they may be able to observe how staff interact with prison visitors, the levels of supervision and monitoring, and the types of visit permitted. Monitors could consider the following information to determine the extent to which contact with the outside world can prevent incidents of SGBV: Preparatory research/reviewing documentation • Are there any existing laws, policies and procedures related to family visits and other forms of communication with the outside world? 64