National dialogue On 24 April 2014, the Parliamentary Ombudsman organised an open meeting in Oslo to present the NPM’s mandate to all interested parties and explain the principles and priorities for the prevention efforts. The Ombudsman also hoped that the meeting would secure input on the NPM’s work from a broad range of organisations and institutions. The meeting was well-attended and generated strong engagement by official bodies at different levels, institutions, supervisory bodies and non-governmental organisations. The topics raised included the main challenges faced by persons deprived of their liberty in Norway today, collaboration, plans and methods, and the establishment of the NPM’s advisory committee. The advisory committee has been appointed for a twoyear term, after which the composition and size of the committee will be reviewed. On 10 September 2014, the NPM collaborated with the Norwegian Research Network on Coercion in Mental Health Care (TvangsForsk) to arrange an open meeting in Tromsø in connection with the NPM’s visit to Tromsø prison. The meeting was attended by academics, stakeholder organisations, public officials and employees at institutions affected by the NPM’s mandate. • The Norwegian Bar Association’s human rights committee During the course of the year, the NPM also met organisations with expertise on human rights, child welfare and psychiatry, as well as stakeholder organisations and representatives from professional groups working with persons deprived of their liberty. These organisations include the Norwegian Medical Association, the Norwegian Psychological Association, the Norwegian Bar Association, The Norwegian Prison and Probation Officers Union, Union of Norwegian Correctional Services Employees, the Norwegian Union of Social Educators and Social Workers and the Association of Child Welfare Service Children. The committee comprises 15 representatives from organisations and professional groups working with persons deprived of their liberty. The members represent the following organisations: • The National Institution for Human Rights • The Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud • The Ombudsman for Children • The Norwegian Medical Association, represented by the Norwegian Psychiatric Association • The Norwegian Psychological Association’s human rights committee • The Norwegian Organisation for Asylum Seekers (NOAS) • The Norwegian Association for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (NFU) • Juss-Buss (a free legal advice service) • The Norwegian Federation of Organizations of Disabled People (FFO) • We Shall Overcome Various organisations also participated in the Parliamentary Ombudsman’s human rights conference in October (discussed on page 30). • The Norwegian Research Network on Coercion in Mental Health Care (TvangsForsk) • The Norwegian Helsinki Committee Advisory committee To strengthen prevention efforts, an advisory committee has been established to support the NPM with expertise, information, advice and input.14 The advisory committee is mandated to ensure that different voices are heard, ranging from stakeholder and human rights organisations to research networks and bodies with particular expertise in the areas of child welfare and psychiatric health care. • The Norwegian Centre against Racism • Amnesty International Norway These organisations represent especially vulnerable population groups and collectively have valuable expertise and experience in areas in which the NPM is particularly dependent on input. The advisory committee met three times in 2014. 14. See section 3a of the Act of 22 June 1962 relating to the Parliamentary Ombudsman for Public Administration (the Parliamentary Ombudsman Act). Norway’s National Preventive Mechanism – Annual Report 2014 29