CAT/OP/5
Guideline 4
Preparation of visits
13.
The secretariat shall prepare the visit in collaboration with the visiting delegation.
This may include the preparation of a country brief drawn from a broad range of relevant
sources, tailored to the specific needs of the visit.
Guideline 5
Conduct of visits
14.
When conducting a visit, members of the delegation act on behalf of the
Subcommittee and not in their individual capacity.
15.
Members of the delegation may arrive in a country in advance of the official
commencement of the visit in order to undertake preparatory work, if authorized by the
delegation to do so.
16.
The visiting delegation works as a team under the leadership of the head of
delegation or the head of a subgroup, if established.
17.
The delegation shall, when possible, hold meetings on a daily basis for briefing and
debriefing.
18.
The visit programme may be varied by the delegation during the course of the visit.
19.
If the conduct of a member of the delegation raises issues of concern, the head of
delegation may, having consulted, as appropriate, within the delegation, take such measures
as appear appropriate under the circumstances and which may include, following
consultation with the Bureau, requesting that the member leave the delegation.
20.
If the members of the delegation consider that the conduct of the head of delegation
raises issues of concern, they shall refer this to the Bureau.
21.
When conducting confidential interviews the delegation shall respect the privacy
and autonomy of the interviewee.
22.
Only when photographic documentation is regarded as essential for the preparation
of the visit report may images be recorded of and in places of detention, and only with the
express consent of the head or subhead of the delegation. In addition, images of persons
may be recorded only with the express consent of the person concerned.
23.
At the end of a visit to a place of detention the visiting delegation may provide the
relevant authority with preliminary oral feedback on that visit. Should it choose to do so,
such feedback should highlight generic and systemic issues and only refer to an identifiable
individual or individuals in exceptional cases of pressing need and with their consent.
24.
At the end of a visit, the delegation may communicate preliminary observations to
the authorities of the State party concerned. The preliminary observations may also be
communicated to the national preventive mechanism(s), and the delegation may consider
suggesting to the State party that it invite the national preventive mechanism(s) to the
presentation of the preliminary observations or to other relevant meetings.
25.
At the end of the visit, the delegation may, inter alia:
(a)
Raise any urgent issues that in its view require immediate action;
(b)
Seek to explore potential preventive measures in dialogue with the State
party and other stakeholders, without prejudice to the recommendations to be made in the
visit report;
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