Part II Preventing torture: NHRIs in action | Section III Acting as a control mechanism 1.4.2. Establishing the visiting team and organizing the work In setting up the visiting team, NHRIs should consider: • the type of expertise needed, based on the objectives of the visit and the type of facility being visited (participation of a medical doctor is often useful) • gender balance • the size of the visiting team (generally between two and eight persons) • identifying a team leader • the division of tasks between team members and ensuring each person understands their specific responsibilities during the course of the visit. In 2007, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea monitored six detention centres and two juvenile detention centres. The visits were undertaken by monitoring teams that included a Commissioner, medical doctors, lawyers, NGO representatives and investigators from the Commission. 1.4.3. Collecting available information Before a visit, the visiting team should seek to compile and review all available information about the particular place of detention, such as: • reports from other organizations • media reports • the number and type of complaints received by the NHRI or other complaint handling bodies (the absence of complaints can also be revealing). It is important to make sure that all team members share and review this information before undertaking the visit. 1.4.4. Establishing prior contacts Before the visit, the NHRI should consider contacting other groups or individuals who have information to share about the particular place of detention, such as NGOs, family members of detainees, lawyers and those released from detention. The NHRI may also choose to announce a visit in advance. While NHRIs are mandated to carry out unannounced visits to places of detention, there are some situations where announcing a visit in advance may be beneficial (for example, to ensure the presence of the prison governor). 2. Undertaking a visit In order to properly evaluate the conditions of detention and the treatment of detainees, NHRIs need to cross-check different sources of information (a process known as “triangulation”), including: • information from the authorities and other sources • information from persons deprived of their liberty • the observations of the visiting team. 2.1. Conducting the visit A preventive visit to a place of detention should contain the following steps: • an initial talk with the person in charge of the facility • a tour of the premises Chapter 8: Monitoring places of detention | 87