National Preventive Mechanism 3 National Preventive Mechanism 3.1 Introduction The four sections of this volume present a detailed overview of the activities of the Austrian Ombudsman Board and its commissions as the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM). The first part will explain the preventive mandate of the Austrian Ombudsman Board (AOB), on the basis of which the most important results in this area will be summarised. The report will present particularly important and representative figures relating to monitoring and control activities, staff resources and the budget. This performance record will be supplemented by a report by the expert commissions and the Human Rights Advisory Council along with a summary of the numerous forms of bilateral and international cooperation, which guarantee a continuous sharing of experience. Thereafter, the monitoring framework and methodology of the NPM will be presented. The standards and methods set jointly by the AOB and the commissions guarantee a uniform approach and provide an important base for the work of the NPM. 82 Focus on structural deficits Since the institutions and facilities that are to be monitored and controlled are very different, the main part will present the significant results of monitoring proceedings according to the type of institution or facility. On account of the sheer number alone – the commissions carry out an average of 500 control visits each year – it is not possible to present the results of each individual case. The presentation must be limited to recurring threats: to system-related problem areas, i.e. circumstances that must be regarded as critical from a human rights perspective or determined cases of maladministration that are not isolated instances. The description of these problem areas will point to the possible causes and report the answers by the responsible parties. However, in addition to systemic deficiencies individual cases will also be presented if particularly problematic situations were observed in the institutions or facilities. Solution-oriented approach The task of the NPM is not only to identify maladministration, but also to work towards their elimination and to avoid them in the future where possible. Accordingly, the description of the individual problem areas is concluded by concrete recommendations. The report has intentionally not been limited to presenting existing situations. By contrast, it also documents developments, if structural deficits could for instance be rectified. Examples of positive changes are thus also included, if they have the potential to embolden and encourage others to follow suit. In line with the AOB’s area of competence, the report not only documents the monitoring and control of institutions and facilities, but also observations of forced returns and police operations. These accounts also follow the pattern described above.