Overview of the National Preventive Mechanism 1.4 Human resources 1.4.1 Personnel In order to implement the OPCAT mandate, the AOB received 15 additional permanent positions in 2012 to fulfil its responsibilities. One permanent position has since been eliminated due to budgetary restrictions. The organisational unit “OPCAT Secretariat” is responsible for coordinating the collaboration with the commissions. It also examines international reports and documents in order to support the NPM with information from similar institutions. The AOB staff members who are entrusted with NPM responsibilities are legal experts who have experience in the areas of the rights of persons with disabilities, children’s rights, social rights, police, asylum and the judiciary. 1.4.2 Six regional commissions The commissions To fulfil its responsibilities in accordance with the Act on the Implementation of the OPCAT (OPCAT-Durchführungsgesetz), the NPM must entrust the multidisciplinary commissions it has appointed (see Annex) with the tasks they have to perform. If required, the regional commissions may involve experts from other specialist areas provided that members of any other commissions are not available for this purpose. In this way, persons with physical impairments as well as persons with migration or refugee experiences took part in visits to facilities in 2017 in order to contribute their special expertise. The commissions are organised according to regional criteria. They usually consist of eight members and one head of commission. 1.4.3 Human Rights Advisory Council The Human Rights Advisory Council was established as an advisory body. It is constituted of non-governmental organisations and federal ministries (see Annex). The Human Rights Advisory Council supports the NPM regarding the clarification of monitoring competences and questions that arise during visits by the commissions and go beyond the problems inherent in an individual case. 1.5 European NPM Forum 18 International collaboration and cooperation The European NPM Forum was initiated on a joint project between the EU and the Council of Europe. The goal of this regular meeting is the exchange of opinions and experience. NPMs from the Member States were invited to a kick-off event in April 2017 to identify important questions and key topics, and to create the work programme for future network meetings. The kick-off