A/HRC/30/69
constitutes a serious threat to that person’s health, physical or psychological integrity or
even to her or his life;
(b)
In cases in which, even when no such threat is alleged to exist, there are
particular circumstances that warrant an urgent action.
23.
After having transmitted an urgent appeal to the Government, the Working Group
may transmit the case through its regular procedure in order to render an opinion on
whether the deprivation of liberty was arbitrary or not. Such appeals — which are of a
purely humanitarian nature — in no way prejudge any opinion the Working Group may
render. The Government is required to respond separately for the urgent action procedure
and the regular procedure.
24.
The Chair-Rapporteur, or in his or her absence the First Vice-Chair (see para. 3 (c)
and (d)), shall transmit the appeal by the most rapid means to the Minister for Foreign
Affairs through the Permanent Mission of the country concerned.
VI. Country visits
25.
For the purposes of completing its task, the Working Group frequently pays visits on
official mission. These visits are prepared in collaboration with the Government, the United
Nations agencies in the field and civil society representatives. The visits are an opportunity for
the Working Group to engage in direct dialogue with the Government in question and with
representatives of civil society, with the aim of better understanding the situation of deprivation
of liberty in the country and the underlying reasons for arbitrary detention. An important part of
these missions are visits to detention centres, including penitentiaries, prisons, police stations,
detention centres for migrants and psychiatric hospitals.
26.
When the Working Group receives an invitation by a Government to conduct a
country visit, the Working Group responds by inviting the Permanent Representative of the
State to the United Nations Office at Geneva to a meeting to determine the dates and terms
of the country visit. The secretariat of the Working Group initiates a dialogue with the
parties involved in the visit with a view to taking all practical measures to facilitate the
mission. The preparation for the visit is conducted in close cooperation with diplomatic
authorities of the host country and United Nations agencies.
27.
The Government must assure the Working Group that, during the visit, the Working
Group will have the opportunity to conduct meetings with the highest authorities of the
branches of the State (political, administrative, legislative and judicial authorities) and that
it will be able to visit penitentiaries, prisons, police stations, immigration detention centres,
military prisons, detention centres for juveniles and psychiatric hospitals. It will be able to
meet with all the authorities and officials who affect the personal liberty of persons
subjected to the jurisdiction of the host State. The Working Group shall also conduct
meetings with international bodies and agencies as well as non-governmental organizations,
lawyers, bar associations and other professional associations of interest, national human
rights institutions, diplomatic and consular representatives and religious authorities.
Absolute confidentiality shall be guaranteed during the interviews between the Working
Group and persons deprived of their liberty. The Government shall guarantee there will be
no reprisals against persons interviewed by the Working Group.
28.
The Working Group shall conduct at least two visits per year, and its delegation will
be composed of at least two of its members.
29.
At the end of its visit, the Working Group shall submit a preliminary statement to
the Government, informing it about its preliminary findings. It shall inform the public of its
findings by means of a press conference after debriefing the Government.
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