Preventing Torture An Operational Guide for National Human Rights Institutions - Updated Edition Insights from practice: The Georgia Public Defender presents its annual report to the Parliament in June each year. In addition, the NPM also presents its separate annual report to the Parliament in a separate hearing in January each year. The June session is an opportunity to reiterate some of the issues KEY POINTS: CHAPTER 8 • Monitoring places of detention through regular visits should respect basic principles, in particular the “do no harm” principle. • Visits to places of detention should be well planned in terms of reviewing available information, dividing tasks between team members and making prior contacts. • Key steps involved in conducting a visit include: an initial talk with the authorities in charge, a tour of the premises, a consultation of registers and other documents, private interviews with detainees, a final meeting with the authorities in charge. • Obtaining and cross-checking information from different sources is key to ensuring the objectivity and credibility of such information. • NHRIs should integrate a gender perspective and gendersensitive language when preparing and conducting visits to places of deprivation of liberty, as well as when writing reports and recommendations. • Reporting on visits and preparing good recommendations is crucial as a follow-up mechanism and for establishing an ongoing dialogue with the relevant authorities. 120