The National Agency is tasked with preventing torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment at places of detention. This means that it has a preventive remit. For the fulfilment of this task, it is necessary that the Agency’s recommendations are implemented not only in the facilities it visits but in all the relevant facilities across Germany. The National Agency translates recurring recommendations into standards. These standards are developed on a continual basis and are intended to provide the supervisory authorities and facilities with benchmarks for humane detention conditions and humane treatment of persons who are deprived of their liberty in any of the facilities under their responsibility. This helps achieve humane conditions of detention and increase the effectiveness of the National Agency’s work despite the large number of facilities. The standards are also published on the website of the National Agency. To ensure the respect of human dignity, the National Agency considers the following standards to be indispensable: 1 – DEPORTATION 1.5 – CONSIDERATION FOR CHILDREN AND SICK PERSONS 1.1 – DEPORTATION OF PERSONS SERVING A PRISON SENTENCE When deportations are to be carried out, special consideration must be given to the needs of children and sick persons, and suitable care should be provided. Where persons who are required to leave the country are currently serving a prison sentence, every effort should be made to ensure they are deported before the end of their sentence. At the very least, it should be ensured that the conditions for deportation are in place before they have fully served their prison sentence. 1.6 – INFORMATION ON THE DEPORTATION PROCEDURE Information on the deportation procedure must be provided to persons being deported – at the time of the collection – immediately, comprehensively, in writing and in a language they understand. This should include the following:  The schedule of the deportation including flight times  Information on luggage  Information on their rights during the deportation procedure. 1.2 – INFORMATION ON THE TIME OF EXECUTION OF THE DEPORTATION ORDER For humanitarian reasons, wherever individual cases require – for example if there are children or sick people in the family – persons required to leave the country should be informed at least a week in advance that their deportation is imminent. 1.7 – COMMUNICATION DURING THE ENTIRE DEPORTATION PROCEDURE 1.3 – TIME OF COLLECTION It must be possible for persons being deported and prison staff to communicate during the entire deportation procedure. The written information on the person’s rights and the schedule of th e deportation cannot substitute the service of an interpreter where communication difficulties arise. Interpreters could also be involved via telephone or video conferencing. Collections at night should be avoided. 1.4 – DEPORTATIONS FROM EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, HEALTHCARE OR CARE FACILITIES As a rule, deportations should not be carried out from hospitals, schools or daycare facilities. 15