Explanation Pursuant to Article 2a paragraph 2 of the Law on Ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (“Official Gazette of Serbia and Montenegro – International Agreements“, Nos. 16/2005, 16/2005 and 2/2006 and „Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia – International Agreements“, No. 7/2011), the Protector of Citizens announced a Public call for the selection of Associations to cooperate in performing tasks of the National Preventive Mechanism against Torture. Public call was published on the website of the Protector of Citizens on 26 December 2011 and in the „Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia“; No. 100/2011 of 29 December 2011. The Protector of Citizens, pursuant to Article 3 paragraph 4 of the Decision on establishing and work of the Administrative and Technical Service of the Protector of Citizens, issued on 26 December 2011 Decision on establishing the Commission for the selection of Associations with which the Protector of Citizens shall cooperate in performing tasks of the National Preventive Mechanism against Torture. In its Report of 20 January 2012 the Commission suggested to the Protector of Citizens to issue Decision on the cooperation of the Protector of Citizens in performing tasks of the National Preventive Mechanism against Torture with the applicant Associations, as follows: Belgrade Center for Human Rights; Victimology Society of Serbia; Dialogue; Mental Disability Rights Initiative of Serbia (MDRI-S); Committee of Lawyers for Human Rights (YUCOM); International Assistance Network (IAN); Committee for Human Rights – Valjevo; Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia; Center for Human Rights - Niš; and to conclude with all applicant Associations individual Cooperation Agreements in performing tasks of the National Preventive Mechanism against Torture, in which form and manner of the cooperation implementation shall be specified. The Protector of Citizens issued this Decision accepting the Commission proposal. PROTECTOR OF CITIZENS Saša Janković