2016 REPORT ON NATIONAL PREVENTION OF TORTURE Seimas Ombudsmen at different places of detention and the most urgent problems identified in 2014–2016, and discuss ways for solving them. Over the reporting period, meetings were held with members of the Council of Rūpestinga globa, an association of the heads of Lithuanian care institutions, the heads of care institutions and other representatives of the responsible authorities in the counties (Kaunas and Klaipėda), and psychiatrists’ representatives with regard to the proper safeguarding of human rights standards in psychiatry, as well as with representatives of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania and the Prison Department under the Ministry of Justice. Also a meeting with the CPT, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania was organised. Moreover, three qualification development seminars under the title “Ensuring human rights and freedoms in the functions of police officers (for persons placed under police supervision in police custody and temporary detention facilities, or in escorts)” were organised (in Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipėda Counties). 2. Conducting the visit 3. Writing a report with findings and recommendations 4. Publishing the report on the Internet 5. Sending the report to the head of the monitored institution 6. Consultations regarding possible implementation measures of issued recommendations 7. Receiving feedback from the place of detention 8. Considering whether to make a follow-up visit Preparation for inspections included review of the requirements of legal acts, case law, and the standards of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture and its reports following visits to Lit­ huania collecting material about the institution to be inspected. Planned inspections were not noted in advance. During the visit, officials carrying out an inspection communicated with heads of institutions, the staff of the administration and other staff as well as detainees and, if that was possible, with their relatives. Also, various premises (personal, common-use) were inspected, the installation of the premises was assessed, the infrastructure of the institution as well various registration logs and other documents were examined. While performing the function of the national prevention of torture, ensuring inter-institutional cooperation is of importance as well. Therefore in 2016 the Seimas Ombudsmen cooperated with the Office of the Ombudsman for Children’s Rights of the Republic of Lithuania during visits to children’s care homes, the representatives of the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNCHR) in Lithuania and other institutions. In the first year of work, following each inspection, a report was prepared with conclusions on noticed shortcomings and recommendations for eliminating them and it was submitted to the heads of institution, and, where necessary, to other responsible institutions. However, it was noticed that many problems were systemic, therefore individual reports were replaced by common reports following inspections of several places of detention of the same type. Such reports assessed factual circumstances according to appropriate areas STAGES OF INSPECTIONS The stages of inspections to places of detention include the following stages: 1. Preparation for the visit 8