A representative from my consulate is coming to visit me. What should I do?

• Ask your prison officer or your consulate to arrange a private visit with your consular representative so that no member of the police is present. This may not always be possible but it is worth asking. 
   
• If your first meeting is not held in private and you want to discuss matters of a sensitive nature, ask your consular official to arrange a private visit in the future or ask your family to request a private visit for you. In some countries a private visit may not be permitted.
   
• Make sure you inform the visiting consular officer of any mistreatment.
   
• If you have been mistreated, ask your consular officer to arrange for you to visit a doctor in private to document your injuries. If this is not possible, make sure you show your injuries to the consular official.
   
• Give your consular official the name and contact details of your family members and your lawyer and ask the official how often they will visit and what other assistance they can provide to you. For data protection reasons the official may need a specifically named family member/friend to whom they can pass information about you. Ensure that you make it clear to the official that you would like them to exchange information about you with your nominated family member, even if the official does not ask.
   
• Inform the consular officials of any other welfare issues and in particular inform them of any medical conditions or medicines you need.
   
• Ask your consular official to provide you with information about all the organisations that can help you. In particular, ask them to provide you with a Fair Trials International Questionnaire and ask them to ensure the completed form is sent to us. You should also ask them to contact an organisation which can provide welfare support to prisoners detained abroad (for example if you are a British national you should ask your consular official to contact Prisoners Abroad).
   

This is not a substitute for legal advice and, because every case is different and legal systems around the world vary so much, we cannot guarantee that the answers will be applicable to your own case. For advice about your own situation, you should talk to a lawyer qualified in the jurisdiction where you are being prosecuted.

The information contained in this document is provided for information purposes only and is not intended as legal advice, nor does it constitute legal advice. Whilst we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, Fair Trials International makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or applicability to individual cases of the information contained in this leaflet. Any reliance you place on such material is therefore strictly at your own risk. Fair Trials International disclaims any liability to the fullest extent permissible by law for any loss or damage of any kind arising from the use of the information provided.

 

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