CAT/C/POL/CO/7 rendition and secret detention programme of the Central Intelligence Agency from 2001 to 2008 and to ensure that persons involved in the alleged crimes of torture and ill-treatment are held accountable. It urges the State party to expedite, to the extent possible, the investigation by the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Krakow of case No. PR II Ds. 16.2016. In addition, the State party should provide updated information on its action pursuant to the issuance of the judgments by the European Court of Human Rights in the cases of Al Nashiri and Husayn (Abu Zubaydah), which became final on 16 February 2016, including in the context of the State party’s ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Finally, the State party should provide information on any diplomatic assurances sought or given by the State party during the period under review. Commissioner for Human Rights and the national preventive mechanism 23. The Committee is concerned at: (a) Reports that the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights, which incorporates the national preventive mechanism, has not received financial resources that would be sufficient to allow it to discharge its mandate fully and effectively and to visit all places of deprivation of liberty; (b) Reports of insufficient human, institutional and financial resources at the national preventive mechanism, and very low visibility of and knowledge about the mechanism among the general public and law enforcement agencies, which has impeded follow-up action after its visits to places of detention and has hampered the hiring of additional specialized staff; (c) Personal attacks voiced against, and criticism of, the current Commissioner for Human Rights (ombudsperson), Adam Bodnar, in particular after statements he made in relation to events that took place in June and July 2019; (d) Credible information that the Commissioner for Human Rights, who was appointed by the Parliament, was called upon to resign by one of the Deputy Ministers of Justice one day after the consideration of the seventh periodic report of Poland, for which the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights provided an alternative report that was posted on the Committee’s web page, potentially amounting to reprisals against the Commissioner for submitting a report to the Committee, which would constitute interference by the executive in the functions of an institution established by the legislature (art. 2). 24. The State party should: (a) Allocate the amount of financial resources requested by the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights to enable it to discharge its mandate, and significantly increase the resources provided to the national preventive mechanism in order to enable it to function effectively, hire the necessary specialized staff and fully implement its mandate in accordance with the Optional Protocol to the Convention, including to ensure follow-up to its visits to places of deprivation of liberty. In this connection, the Committee draws the State party’s attention to the guidelines on national preventive mechanisms developed by the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT/OP/12/5), according to which States parties should provide their national preventive mechanisms with the necessary resources to operate effectively, ensure that they enjoy complete financial and operational autonomy when carrying out their functions and ensure the impartiality and independence of their members; (b) Conduct an awareness-raising campaign in order to heighten knowledge among the general public, law enforcement agencies and medical institutions about the mandate and work of the national preventive mechanism; (c) Ensure the independence, security and ability to function of the Commissioner for Human Rights so that he or she can fully discharge his or her constitutional mandate, in keeping with international standards. 8