22 relevant UN norms, as well as to submit any proposals and deliver its opinions with respect to the current or proposed laws43.44 The State shall undertake to warrant the functional independence of the NPM as well as the independence of its staff44. No authority or official shall be allowed to order, implement, allow or tolerate any sanction against any person or organization due to their sharing any information with NPM, whether true or not, and no such person or organization shall suffer any other consequences whatsoever45.46 The State shall make available any resources required for the functioning of NPM46. The relationship between NPM and state authorities is based on the principle of trust and cooperation.47 The competent authorities are obliged to examine the recommendations of the NPM and enter into a dialogue with it on possible implementation measures47. The competent authorities are obliged to publish and distribute the annual NPM Reports. 3.3. Establishment of NPM in Serbia Serbia signed the Optional Protocol on September 25th 2003 and ratified it on December 1st 200548.49 Serbia became the State Party to the Optional Protocol49 on September 26th 2006. Serbia was four years late with the fulfilment of its obligation to have, designate or introduce an independent national mechanism for prevention of torture to be adopted within a year time following the effective date of the Optional Protocol or after its ratification or accession by a state.50 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Optional Protocol, Article 19 Optional Protocol, Article 18 Item 1 Optional Protocol, Article 21 Item 1 Optional Protocol, Article 18 Item 3 Optional Protocol, Article 22. “Official Gazette of Serbia and Montenegro – International Treaties”, no. 16/2005, amended 2/2006. By submitting the ratification act to the Secretary General of UN. Optional Protocol, Article 17.