NORWEGIAN PARLIAMENTARY OMBUDSMAN National Preventive Mechanism against Torture and Ill-Treatment ANNUAL REPORT 2015 8 The Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture The Optional Protocol also established an international preventive committee that works in parallel with the national preventive mechanisms, the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT). It comprises 25 independent experts. The SPT can visit all places of detention in the states that have endorsed the Optional Protocol, both announced and unannounced visits. The SPT also provides advice and guidance to the national preventive mechanisms, and coordinates its work with international and regional human rights mechanisms, such as the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), the UN Committee against Torture (CAT) and the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture. Definition4: Place of detention Any place under (the State’s) jurisdiction and control where persons are or may be deprived of their liberty, either by virtue of an order given by a public authority or at its instigation or with its consent or acquiescence. The Parliamentary Ombudsman’s preventive mandate The Parliamentary Ombudsman’s national preventive mechanism (NPM) was established when the Storting awarded the task of exercising the mandate set out in OPCAT to the Parliamentary Ombudsman. 4 The Optional Protocol (OPCAT) Article 4 The Parliamentary Ombudsman, represented by 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 endeavours to identify risks of violations by making its own observations and through interviews with the people involved. Interviews with people deprived of their liberty are given special priority. The visits and all other work must have a preventive focus. The NPM therefore pays particular attention to general conditions that may have an impact on, or in the longer-term lead to, the risk of torture and ill-treatment. It also looks in detail at areas that are generally associated with the greatest risk of serious violations of integrity. 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 expertise, information, advice and input to the NPM’s work. The advisory committee ensures that different voices are heard and provides important expertise to the NPM to enable it to exercise its mandate. " During its visits, the NPM endeavours to identify risks of violations by making its own observations and through interviews with the people involved "