ADDRESSING VULNERABILITIES OF LGBT PERSONS IN DETENTION Addressing the situation of LGBT persons in detention in a thematic report or in a section of the annual report also helps protect these persons against possible reprisals (they are less easily identifiable than in a visit report) and serves to highlight the main problems they face, regardless of the institution in which they are held. Participants also noted that the drafting of thematic reports requires significant resources and specific abilities to conduct visits that monitor a particular issue. In order to produce a thematic report on the situation of LGBT persons in detention, NPMs have to identify LGBT persons during their visits at the risk of exposing them to unwanted attention. It is therefore important for NPMs to weigh the pros and cons before embarking on the drafting of such a report. That said, even in situations that may seem hostile, NPMs, given their preventive mandate and privileged access to the realities of detention, were encouraged to show innovation, where deemed appropriate, in efforts to fulfil their mission. It was also stressed that the issues of sexual orientation and gender identity can be embedded implicitly in annual or monitoring reports, within the broader context of discrimination or violence in detention. Finally, participants noted that NPMs should consult reports by regional and international bodies dealing with the issue of LGBT persons in detention and that they could be used as tools or information sources to enrich their own reports, as well as to legitimise NPM interventions. Dialogue with the authorities and collaboration with civil society Depending on the context, dialogue with the authorities can be particularly difficult when the topic of LGBT persons deprived of their liberty is raised. However, participants reiterated that such dialogue is a central part of their mandate and must occur continuously. NPMs have a wide margin of manoeuvre to explore the most adept ways to cultivate and sustain a constructive dialogue, which can be achieved through thematic meetings - including on the issue of LGBT persons - with State institution representatives who do not generally participate in such proceedings. As part of this process, participants suggested that a good practice could be to create discussion groups within government and relevant 27