CAT/OP/CHE/RONPM/1 Commission members conducting visits and interviews build trust with the interviewee and facilitate communication and information-sharing. 53. The Subcommittee also recommends that the National Commission for the Prevention of Torture choose carefully the location of individual interviews to ensure that their content remains confidential. 54. The members of the National Commission for the Prevention of Torture should also inform interviewees that they can report any reprisals taken against them following the visit, and encourage them to do so. If necessary, specific follow-up visits should be conducted. 55. The Subcommittee recommends that the National Commission for the Prevention of Torture prepare a brochure describing its mandate and working methods, explaining the concept of informed consent and providing contact information, and that it disseminate the brochure as widely as possible. 56. The Subcommittee noted that the members of the national preventive mechanism were not wearing anything by which they could be readily identified. 57. The Subcommittee recommends that, when conducting visits, members of the National Commission for the Prevention of Torture wear something to identify themselves, such as a badge or vest. Interpreters 58. In view of the high percentage of persons deprived of their liberty who are of foreign origin, it is essential that the National Commission for the Prevention of Torture have the means to speak to any detainee in a language that he or she understands. 59. The Subcommittee recommends that the National Commission for the Prevention of Torture take appropriate measures to ensure that a sufficient number of interpreters are available. The Subcommittee also recommends that the Commission make promotional materials on its mandate available in languages other than the official languages of Switzerland. Reprisals 60. The Subcommittee underlines the need to ensure that interviewees are protected from possible reprisals, even when there appears to be little risk. The delegation noted with satisfaction that, during the debriefing, the National Commission for the Prevention of Torture made it plain to the prison authorities that any form of intimidation or reprisals against persons deprived of their liberty constituted a violation of the State party’s obligation under article 13 of the Convention and article 21 of the Optional Protocol. 61. The Subcommittee encourages the National Commission for the Prevention of Torture to continue its dialogue with the authorities on the unacceptability of reprisals and on its related follow-up work. The Commission should also undertake preventive follow-up visits if necessary. Follow-up discussion after the visit 62. The Subcommittee’s delegation attended the follow-up discussion between the National Commission for the Prevention of Torture and the authorities of Bern regional prison. The delegation found that the time allotted to the discussion was insufficient to cover all the issues that needed to be addressed, given that four years had passed since the previous visit to Bern regional prison. 63. The Subcommittee encourages the National Commission for the Prevention of Torture to devote the necessary time to follow-up discussions with the authorities of the facilities visited. GE.21-03810 9