8 The Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture The Optional Protocol also established an international prevention committee that works in parallel with the national preventive mechanisms, the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT). The SPT can visit all places of detention in the states that have endorsed the Optional Protocol. The SPT's mandate also includes providing advice and guidance to the national preventive mechanisms. — During its visits, the NPM endeavors to identify risks of violation by making its own observations and through interviews with the people involved. — NORWEGIAN PARLIAMENTARY OMBUDSMAN National Preventive Mechanism ANNUAL REPORT 2016 The Parliamentary Ombudsman's prevention mandate On 14 May 2013, the Norwegian Parliament voted in favour of Norway endorsing the Optional Protocol. The Parliamentary Ombudsman's National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) was established in 2014 when the Parliament assigned the task of exercising the mandate set out in OPCAT to the Parliamentary Ombudsman. Regular visits to places where people are deprived of their liberty are the main tool used in the NPM's work to strengthen protection against and prevention of torture and ill-treatment. The Parliamentary Ombudsman, as the NPM, has right of access to all places of detention and the right to speak privately with people who have been deprived of their liberty. The NPM also has right of access to all essential information relating to detention conditions. During its visits, the NPM endeavors to identify risks of violation by making its own observations and through interviews with the people involved. Interviews with people deprived of their liberty are given special priority. As part of its prevention efforts, the Parliamentary Ombudsman engages in extensive dialogue with national authorities, control and supervisory bodies in the public administration, other ombudsmen, civil society, preventive mechanisms in other countries and international human rights bodies. An advisory committee has been established that contributes information, advice and input to the NPM's work.4 The advisory committee ensures that different voices are heard and provides important expertise to the NPM to enhance its fulfilment of the OPCAT mandate. 4 Read more about the advisory committee in section 6.