Implementation of the Duties and Powers of the National Preventive Mechanism in 2012 The medical expert also established that a hunger strike is (correctly) considered by the Aliens Centre as the first day when an individual stops consuming food and that an announcement of a hunger strike is also registered. The doctor is summoned on the very first day when a foreigner denies food and this is when the observation and recording of the mandatory data commences. These data are: behaviour, weight, vital functions, hydration, the appearance of visible mucous membranes, the smell of acetone. The requests of a foreigner and instructions of a doctor are also written down. The expert established that all of the abovementioned data is recorded in a form which has been designed by the medical consulting room of the Aliens Centre. It was also explained by the nurse to the medical expert that this happens only a few times a year and that the reason for it was normally a foreigner’s attempt at blackmailing for freedom. The reason (blackmailing freedom) as classified by the nurse may be a value judgement which is not acceptable from the a professional point of view since it may include (an inappropriate) attitude towards a person on a strike. That is why the explanation by the Ministry of the Interior, specifically, that foreigners in the Aliens Centre are not to be treated according to value judgements, is encouraging. That blackmailing is a reason for a hunger strike, for example, is mentioned by foreigners themselves, since they disapprove of the limitation of movement in the centre. In case of a hunger strike, nurses and doctors warn foreign nationals of the consequences for their health. Nurses have an appropriate and professional attitude towards all foreigners under consideration. Their behaviour is not degrading or discriminatory. According to the explanation by the Ministry of the Interior, this is confirmed by the fact that not a single complaint on the work of the medical service had been received in the past years, on the contrary, several compliments and acknowledgements had been given. Training in regard to first aid provision has been implemented for all employees in the Aliens Centre in the past years. In its report, the NPM also drew attention to the need that the Aliens Centre should implement the provision of Article 3 of the Rules on Procedure for Accommodation in the Centre for Aliens and on Format and Content of the Identity Card for Permission to Stay on the Territory of the Republic of Slovenia (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 27/2012 of 13 April 2012) in which a medical examination of a foreigner upon his/her admittance into the centre is defined in detail. The Ministry in this regard explained that nurses do not decide on a medical examination. All foreigners are examined by a doctor when accommodated in the centre or on the first working day when a doctor is present. Foreign nationals ask for themselves about any subsequent examinations by a general practitioner which is obviously provided for them and guaranteed. Visit to the Asylum Centre The official capacity of the Asylum Centre is 203 places for applicants for international protection. At the time of the visit (30 August 2012), there were in total 99 persons accommodated in the centre. An introductory interview with the head of the Asylum Centre was first carried out during the visit, which took place together with the head of the Department for Migration Policy and legislation and a co-worker who is responsible for legal matters in the Department for Accommodation, Care and Integration. This was followed by the inspection of accommodation areas and other premises in the facility, interviews with applicants for international protection and a concluding discussion. 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 107