Annual Report 2010 by the National Preventive Mechanism against Torture Basic organisation Graphic 1. Basic structure of the NPM structure Office of the Ombudsman Deputy Advisory Council External collaborators and technical experts NPM Unit Associated Areas and Units: • Security and Justice • Health and Social Policy • Migration and Equal Treatment • Legislative Analysis & Ruling Monitoring Unit Better information in real 23. Similarly, it is considered essential to establish agreements for the provision by time on persons deprived the authorities responsible of information in real time on persons deprived of their of their liberty liberty in unusual circumstances (persons held incommunicado, compulsory psychiatric internees, stowaways, persons quarantined for health reasons, etc.). The following tasks are 24. The main objective of the NPM is to “to establish a system of regular established for inspection visits undertaken by independent international and national bodies to the fulfilment of the mandate: places where people are deprived of their liberty, in order to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment” (Art. 1 OPCAT). The OPCAT sets national preventive mechanisms the following tasks: – To make unannounced inspection visits – Annual reports – To make regular, unannounced inspections of places of deprivation of liberty [Art. 1 & 19.(a) OPCAT]. – To prepare and publish annual reports as per Art. 23 of the OPCAT, in which the “States Parties to the present Protocol undertake to publish and disseminate the annual reports of the national preventive mechanisms”. – Recommendations – To make recommendations to the relevant authorities with the aim of improving the treatment and the conditions of persons deprived of their liberty and to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, taking into consideration the relevant norms of the United Nations [Art. 19.(b) OPCAT]. – Proposals and observations on legislation – Contact with the SPT – To submit proposals and observations concerning existing or draft legislation on relevant matters [Art. 19.(c) OPCAT]. – Maintain direct and, if necessary, confidential contact with the SPT [Art. 11.(b) OPCAT]. – Disclosure & awareness – Promote dissemination, disclosure and awareness activities in regard to issues concerned with the remit of the NPM. The free access to places, 25. The Ombudsman seeks to check that the parties responsible for deprivation persons and documents of liberty comply with current domestic and international regulations, and 20 THE OMBUDSMAN OF SPAIN