International activities (ENNHRI) resulted in a meeting in Vienna to promote cooperation between national monitoring institutions. In a workshop, in which an AOB expert participated, the subject of “Asylum and migration” was discussed. Focal points were forced returns, unaccompanied minor refugees and alternatives to detention. ECRI state report on anti-discrimination During preparation of the Austrian State Report on the subject of antidiscrimination, two ECRI delegates visited the AOB in order to report to ECRI, an independent monitoring body of the Council of Europe that monitors compliance with human rights in connection with combating racism and intolerance. All member states of the Council of Europe are being examined during the current fifth monitoring cycle as to their situation relative to racism and intolerance; subsequently, state reports and recommendations will be submitted to help resolve problems that have been found. CPT meets with NPM In September, the CPT made its sixth visit to Austria and met with the NPM for the first time. Members of the AOB and two heads of commissions informed the monitoring entity deployed by the Council of Europe about current problems identified at places of detention in Austria and shared information about national and international human rights standards. The ban of net beds, the way that abuse allegations against the police are dealt with, incarceration of juvenile offenders and the shortage of personnel in correctional institutions were at the centre of discussions. During the tenday stay, the CPT carried out announced and unannounced visits in the Vordernberg detention centre, the Stein and Vienna-Josefstadt correctional institutions, the Otto Wagner Hospital, as well as various police stations and other places where persons may be deprived of their liberty. 4.2.3 European Union and European Network of Ombudsmen The AOB was awarded a twinning project of the European Commission to support the ombudsman institution in Macedonia. Beginning in 2015, the AOB - in collaboration with the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Human Rights - will send a team of experts to Macedonia to further an in-depth sharing of experiences between the AOB and the ombudsman institution of Macedonia. Both Ombudsman institutions function as ex-post control bodies and as the NPM. The duration of the project will be eight months. Within the scope of this project, sensitisation and awareness campaigns for the situation of Roma, street children and people with special needs will be jointly developed. Additionally, monitoring and control visits in social institutions and places of detention are planned. These will be followed by the development of recommendations for the improvement of conditions in the visited institutions and facilities. Furthermore, joint PR activities are planned to 22