A/HRC/4/33/Add.2 Page 117 make recommendations for the elimination of deficiencies in the penitentiary system, to advise on ways to improve the conditions of places of detention, to bring them into line with the standards and regulations and to conduct research and inquiries aimed at ensuring that rights and safeguards of suspects are exercised in an effective manner. In this framework, in the period of January - October 2006, Human Rights Boards conducted a total of 1792 on-site visits, 1610 of which to places of detention besides rehabilitation centres, hospitals, retirement homes, child care centres and youth hostels. Due to the frequent and wide ranging activities undertaken by Human Rights Boards in recent years, applications received by these boards have increased. The number of applications submitted to Human Rights Boards was 493 in 2004, whereas, this number increased by 59 per cent in 2005 corresponding to a total of 830 applications. 656. The participation and contribution of experienced and competent civil society actors play a significant role in the effectiveness of the Human Rights Boards. In this respect it has been observed that some civil society organizations are reluctant to join the membership of the Human Rights Boards for various reasons. However, steps are being taken to increase the effectiveness and to strengthen the inclusiveness and participatory nature of the Human Rights Boards. Further restructuring plans for the Human Rights Boards are on the Government’s agenda, as envisaged by the 9th Reform Package. 657. Besides the Provincial and District Human Rights Boards, places of detention are under constant control by the Chief Public Prosecutors, enforcement judges, inspectors of the Directorate General of Prisons, inspectors of the Ministry of Justice, the Human Rights Inquiry Commission of the Parliament, Penitentiary Institutions and Places of Detention Monitoring Boards (briefly known as “Prison Monitoring Boards”). Chief Public Prosecutors are carrying out frequent, unannounced inspection visits to places of detention and they interview detained persons in private. Their reports on the visits are sent to both Provincial Chief Prosecutors and the Ministry of the Interior. 658. In accordance with the Law No. 4681 adopted by the Parliament on 14 June 2001, Prison Monitoring Boards have been set up in each criminal justice district where a prison or a place of detention operates. A Prison Monitoring Board is composed of five members who are appointed by the judicial commission comprising the Chairman of Heavy Penal Court, a Chief Public Prosecutor and a judge. Membership is voluntary and no salary is paid to the members. Members of the Prison Monitoring Board are graduates of a variety of faculties, such as law, medicine, pharmacology, public administration, sociology, psychology, social services, pedagogic sciences or similar educational programmes. These Boards are entitled to carry out unannounced visits. They are required to visit every institution in their district at least once every two months. They monitor enforcement of sentences, rehabilitation programmes, living and health conditions, security measures and transfer of prisoners. Members of the boards hold private meetings with prisoners, interview the prison administration and staff and examine prison records and other relevant documents. Prison Monitoring Boards prepare quarterly reports on their observations, copies of which are forwarded to the Ministry of Justice, enforcement judges, Offices of Public Prosecution and, when deemed necessary, to the Chairman of the Human Rights Inquiry Commission of the Parliament. The General Directorate for Prisons and Places of Detention of the Ministry of Justice takes all necessary steps to address and solve the problems or shortcomings pointed out in the report or conveys the report to the relevant senior authorities if a legislative arrangement is required for to resolve the shortcomings mentioned. The boards