From the beginning of her activity, the Commissioner closely cooperates with the civil society institutions. From the first years of activity at her initiative the Council of Independent Experts that became an innovation in the country experience and united numerous civil society institutions was created at the Office and this council functions at present. As mentioned previously, involvement of civil society members and participation of experts is regularly ensured during the visits and legal awareness events within the framework of the NPM activity, during the meetings held with participation of relevant state agencies, discussions on legislation, in the process of compilation of appropriate reports. Within this framework of activity, close cooperation is built with the Public Committee under the MJ composed of the civil society members. The members of the Committee involved as experts closely participate in the activity of the NPM. The head of the NPG of the Ombudsman was a participant in relevant events conducted during the reviewed period as a member of Public Committee Election Commission under the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan. International cooperation. Further expanding of international relations in 2017, conducted exchanges of experience and opinions created wide space for efficient realization of the Azerbaijani NPM’s activity. The Commissioner as an NPM, closely cooperates with the UN and its Treaty bodies, including CAT, SPT, as well as CPT, COE, EU, OSCE, APT and other international institutions, as well as foreign NPMs, and shares her experience in the concerned field. Organization of efficient meetings, holding joint events and participation of the Commissioner and the NPG in international events and exchange of experiences in the field of prevention of torture can be shown as the directions of international relations of the Commissioner as the NPM. This cooperation also includes various trainings for advancement of the NPM activity and increasing the professional capacity of the NPG members organized in cooperation with the UN agencies, as well as improving the activities of the NPM within the Twining Project which is running in partnership with Germany and Poland with EU support, meetings and exchange of experience with participation of CPT, APT representatives and other NPM experts. Within the framework of NPM, the Commissioner received a delegation led by Mykola Gnatovsky, President of the CPT, within the framework of his visit to Azerbaijan in 201860. 60 http://sia.az/az/news/social/643031.html 72