23 of penal sanctions), the International Assistance Network (in the field of rights of persons with mental disorders in detention), MDRI (in the field of rights of persons with disabilities in social security institutions), the Victimology Society of Serbia (in the field of rights of women in the prison system), the Human Rights Centre of Nis (in the field of rights of persons with disabilities in the prison system), the Human Rights Committee of Valjevo and Dialogue Valjevo (in the field of rights of juveniles in the prison system). During the reporting period, members of the associations which had cooperation agreements with the NPM activities were actively involved, in accordance with the NPM methodology, in the visits to detention institutions, preparation of reports and recommendations, as well as in the dialogue with the visited institutions and the competent ministries. In addition, in 2014 the Protector of Citizens also cooperated with the Youth Initiative for Human Rights, the organisation “ApsАrt“, Group 484, the Association of Former Convicts “Libertas“ and the Association of Users of Psychiatric Services and their Families “Duša“ (Soul). During the reporting period, the NPM also took part in numerous projects of civil society organisations, with which it cooperates in the field of prevention of abuse. In 2014, the Serbian NPM intensified cooperation with the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights in the visits with a specific purpose. In this context, the focus was on monitoring the institutions where asylum-seekers in the Republic of Serbia are placed. 41 visits with a specific purpose were made, while the plan of visits for 2015 envisages intensive monitoring of treatment by competent authorities of refuges from war-torn regions. The association Youth Initiative for Human Rights in cooperation with NPM organised training for prison services staff titled “Acting of the Staff of the Administration for the Enforcement of Penal Sanctions in accordance with Modern Standards of Prohibition of Abuse”. In addition, in cooperation with the Youth Initiative for Human Rights, under the project titled “Building free of torture and impunity societies in the Western Balkans”, a study visit to Montenegro was organised for representatives of the Serbian NPM and under the same project representatives of NMPs of Albania and Montenegro made a study visit to the Serbian NPM. 4.6. Participation of External Experts in NPM activities The NPM teams for visits to places of detention should be multidisciplinary teams. As the representatives of the Protector of Citizens, the Provincial Ombudsman and relevant associations in the teams formed to visit detention places are mostly lawyers, engagement of external associates from other professions is necessary to ensure the efficient work of the NPM. In the course of its work, the NPM hires experts in the fields of forensic medicine, psychiatry, psychology, special prevention and internal medicine. In 2014, the following experts participated in activities of the NPM: Mr. Đorđe Alempijević, PhD, forensic medicine expert, University School of Medicine of the University of Belgrade; Mr. Zoran Ilić, PhD, Department for Prevention and Treatment of Behavioural Disorders, University School of Special Education and Rehabilitation of the University of Belgrade; Mr. Dragan Ječmenica, PhD, forensic medicine expert, University School of Medicine of the University of Belgrade; Mr. Vladimir Jović, psychiatrist, University School of Philosophy of the University of Pristina/Kosovska Mitrovica and Dr. Radomir Samardžić, psychiatrist. Expert contributions of the hired external experts resulted in the improvement of the quality of work of the NPM, primarily the prepared reports and numerous recommendations issued with the aim of eliminating identified shortcomings.