(Styria/Carinthia) and Heinz Mayer, university professor and former Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of Vienna for Commission 5 (Vienna/Lower Austria). The remaining commission members were selected from 600 applications after an intensive selection process and a hearing by the Human Rights Advisory Council. This also made it possible to ensure a more uniform and at the same time a broader range of specialist expertise in each commission. All six commissions have been expanded by one member and now consist of eight members each and a head of commission. Although the commissions were and are at liberty to supplement any missing or additionally required specialist expertise by consulting external experts, the new composition guarantees that each commission has at least one permanent member with specialist knowledge in psychiatry, nursing and caretaking and pedagogy. A total of 54 experts belong to the six commissions. Some experts that could not be appointed as commission members in 2015 stated that they were willing to be available as part of a pool of experts. The principle of partial replacement of commission members every three years is provided for by law. At the end of the selection process a re-stabilisation process is required to reflect on both what has been achieved and which deficiencies exist. This can result in new perspectives and ways of internal differentiation and can open up space to break up and recreate patterns of collaboration. This also promotes the system’s openness and capacity to gain new viewpoints. Continuity and renewal as a structural principle The NPM would like to thank Karin Treichl, Angelika Vauti-Scheucher and Manfred Nowak, as well as all retired experts for their work and commitment in the very challenging development phase of the NPM. 1.4. Second shadow monitoring for NPM Due to the large number of newly appointed commission members, a two-and-a-half day shadow monitoring similar to the one practiced previously in 2012 was conducted in September 2015. The European Training and Research Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (ETC) in Graz, whose director, Renate Kicker, is the Chairperson of the Human Rights Advisory Council, was entrusted with the execution and coordination of the event. At the same time, the ETC was requested to separately evaluate the suitability of NPM monitoring priorities defined thus far, as well as the methodology used. The prevailing topic on the first day of the training module was the structured preparation of visits. Internationally recognised experts accompanied the commissions during their visits in a correctional 10