A/HRC/4/102 page 17 on the independence of lawyers and judges. Subsequently, and in close cooperation with the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Ecuador, OHCHR participated in the United Nations monitored selection process of judges for the Supreme Court.16 Monitoring of prisons and places of detention 69. In Burundi, OHCHR regularly conducts visits to prisons and other places of detention to assess conditions of detention and to receive complaints from detainees. For example, in 2004 8 of Burundi’s 11 prisons were regularly visited to assess conditions and collect complaints from detainees. Regular visits were also conducted to 16 police detention facilities in Bujumbura-Mairie and secondary detention centres in other provinces. Information days were also held for detainees in 11 prisons, so that they could have a better understanding of their rights under national and international law. In 2005, 6 of the 11 prisons in the country were regularly visited to assess detention conditions and to collect complaints from detainees.17 70. In Colombia, in 2004 and 2005, OHCHR undertook efforts to strengthen institutions responsible for penitentiary policy, and control bodies responsible for monitoring the situation of detainees and prisoners, in cooperation with the National Institute of Prisons and Penitentiaries, the Ministry of Interior and Justice, the Office of the Ombudsman for Human Rights, the Procurator-General’s Office and civil society organizations. Visits were made to seven pilot prison centres to observe progress made in implementing recommendations of OHCHR in 2005.18 71. The Human Rights Office in Sukhumi has reported that it visits places of detention in Abkhazia, Georgia.19 72. The office of OHCHR in Nepal regularly visits and inspects places of detention, and maintains an ongoing dialogue with authorities and provides technical assistance on the rights of detainees, including those related to access to family and legal counsel, legality of detention and conditions of detention. The office raises concerns and makes recommendations to penal authorities with a view to ensuring that the human rights of detainees are respected.20 16 Written contribution of OHCHR headquarters unit covering Ecuador. 17 Annual Reports 2004 & 2005: Implementation of Activities and Use of Funds, OHCHR, Geneva. 18 Annual Reports 2004: Implementation of Activities and Use of Funds, OHCHR, Geneva. 19 Report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Abkhazia, Georgia (S/2007/15). 20 Written contribution of the OHCHR office in Nepal.