Chapter 1
Introducing National Human
Rights Institutions

Chapter 2
Models of NHRIs

Chapter 3
Roles and Responsabilities of
NHRIs

Chapter 4
The Rule of Law and the NHRI

Chapter 5
NHRIs, Development and
Democratic Governance

Chapter 6
Situating NHRI Support in the UN Planning & Programming Process

Chapter 7
Pre-establishment Phase of NHRIs

Chapter 8
Establishing NHRIs

Chapter 9
Consolidation Phase:
Strengthening the Mature NHRI

Chapter 10
Paris Principles and Accreditation

Annex 2: Standing Instructions for NHRIs: Monitoring Places of Detention

Short to medium-term

1. A set of policy/guideline on the role and nature of the institution’s monitoring responsibilities and activities, including coordination and cooperation with other actors.

2. Policy on routine visits and unannounced visits.

3. Policy on issues to be monitored, differentiated by (1) class of place of detention if necessary, and (2) thematic issues, such as issues of specific concern to vulnerable groups.

4. Tools for Monitoring, such as standard templates of information to be recorded, differentiated by class of place of detention if necessary (to ensure a common vocabulary and information recording mechanism).

5. Policy and procedures for reporting on the monitoring programme, including the public release of information on the results, recommendations made, and responses received.

6. Policies on the interpretation of rights and standards that apply, in the country context as appropriate, to detainees and places of detention differentiated by class of place of detention as necessary.

7. General policy on conducting investigations on matters revealed during monitoring activity.

8. Policy, procedure and system for maintaining statistical information on the results of monitoring activity, differentiated by class of place of detention if necessary, and referencing vulnerable groups.

9. Policy and procedures for the preparation of management reports on the monitoring activity, including changes of the situation over time, by region and by class of place of detention.

Longer-term

10. The review and revision of guidelines, policies, procedures or systems based on experience.

11. Flags or alerts on areas of longstanding or particular concern.

12. Specific policy on conducting investigations of matters revealed during monitoring as regards types or classes of cases, as necessary.

13. The development of a monitoring management system or database to maintain statistical and other information and to generate management reports as required.