Tips for monitors Tips for monitors 4: Communicating with the general public and state authorities In a number of countries, the rapid shaping of public perceptions on human rights and counter-terrorism, especially in the case of the aftermath of a terrorist attack, makes additional scrutiny by monitors particularly important. Charged public opinion and debate also potentially exposes monitors to heightened criticism and attack. Monitors need to ask themselves how and when to communicate with the public on issues related to VERLT in prisons, and how to do so most effectively when presenting their findings. Monitors may have to confront discourse in politics and society that is not human rights friendly and address misconceptions about the protection of prisoners’ rights in the context of VERLT. In particular, they may have to emphasize that preventing and countering terrorism and VERLT is no justification for denying the human rights of people in detention, while illustrating how a failure to respect and protect human rights undermines effective action to prevent and counter terrorism and VERLT. In doing so, monitors will have to pay particular attention to tailoring their messaging, including in press releases, on websites and social media or through dedicated media interventions. Given the sensitivity of the topic, detention monitors also need to strictly abide in their communications by their rules of confidentiality and ensure that their interventions do not do any harm to both those detained and to prison administration/staff. While some caution and careful messaging might be necessary, detention monitors should not compromise on their work and findings. They should co-operate and interact with state authorities in accordance with their established practices, mission and mandate, including for the implementation of recommendations to increase the protection of human rights of those in detention. Detention monitors could harness international and regional networks and platforms to pool their experience, share good practices and collectively examine VERLT as a stand-alone issue. They could use such forums to pool their experiences, share good practices, build their knowledge and capacities on human rights risks in preventing and countering VERLT in prisons, and respond in a concerted manner to measures that may spread or be replicated in various prison systems. For example, NPMs from the OSCE region could make use of the ODIHR and APT regular NPM and CSO meetings, the Council of Europe NPM Forum and Newsletter, the EU NPM Network, the South-Eastern European NPM Network and the Nordic Network. Detention monitors could explore ways to reinforce their cooperation with international human rights bodies, such as UN Treaty Bodies and Special Procedures, including the SPT, the CAT and the Special Rapporteur on Torture and Special Rapporteur on Counter-Terrorism, as well as the CPT, which already has a track record of monitoring VERLT-related issues. Partnerships with other bodies tasked with promoting the respect of human rights at the national level could support detention monitors in their preparatory and follow-up work. A number of NHRIs throughout the OSCE region have already raised awareness, advised national authorities and handled individual complaints 98