Implementation of the Duties and Powers of the National Preventive Mechanism in 2012 Patients’ clothing In all wards of the Ljubljana University Psychiatric Hospital (except in cases of emergency), during the daytime patients do not wear night clothes (pyjamas) any longer. For the last two years they have been in fact trying to make patients wear ordinary daytime clothes. But in gerontopsychiatric units (G1 and G2) patients were still wearing hospital pyjamas as a result of the requirements of health care. But they were generally wearing daytime clothes in the remaining secure wards. Exceptions are decided by the ward doctor. It is believed by the NPM that the wearing of daytime clothes may be also encouraged at the gerontopsychiatric units of the above mentioned hospital. Patients staying in the secure in-patient ward of Ljubljana University Psychiatric Hospital were wearing tracksuits owned by the hospital as well as their own clothes. It was recommended that clothes be chosen by the staff mainly according to the internal temperature of the ward. The hospital in question may ensure proper clothes or an overgarment for patients going outdoors for a bit of fresh air or to have a smoke outside the ward. The management of Ljubljana University Psychiatric Hospital has agreed with findings by the NPM that wearing pyjamas is improper. Patients will be encouraged to wear personal clothes also in the future. They communicated that the procurement of light summer T-shirts is underway (for patients without relatives). Patients staying in both secure in-patient wards of Vojnik Psychiatric Hospital were wearing hospital clothes (pyjamas) except when having (therapeutic) treatment. In the summer, patients may wear gowns when going out of the ward while in the winter time, patients put on socks, shoes and jackets. Underwear is allowed at the male ward, if it is available. Patients on the women’s ward are supposed to wear no underwear, not even bras. In the NPM’s opinion, patients should be informed about the option to have and wear daytime clothes and underwear at the time of their admission and be encouraged to wear them except when this is hindered or even prevented by special features of the bodily medical condition of an individual patient. Experience in fact shows that the practice of the mandatory wearing of hospital clothes does not contribute to the strengthening of a patient’s personal identity and his/her self-confidence. The wearing of clothes that are personalized and individualized in the secure in-patient wards might thus form a part of the therapeutic process. One of the patients being interviewed classified the wearing of pyjamas as disturbing, another expressed a wish to wear his own clothes but is wearing pyjamas since he believed there was no other option. One of the patients even complained to the NPM team that she was not being given underwear. It was explained by Vojnik Psychiatric Hospital that wearing underwear is limited mainly for safety reasons and suicidal threats and hygienic reasons. National Preventive Mechanism in the Republic of Slovenia under the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 59