to sum up to-date achievements of the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture in Poland and the challenges for the next years. The discussion was attended by representatives of national and international institutions and nongovernmental organizations engaged in the prevention of torture, including experts and practitioners whose work involves contacts with victims of inhuman and degrading treatment9. In the meeting Katarzyna Gardapkhadze, Deputy Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) presented an opinion on the Polish legislation regarding the prohibition of torture, and provided examples of other countries’ legislation that includes a definition of the offence10. The opinion related to key components of the unconditional prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment, that had been identified by the Committee against Torture. The document pointed out that every state, in its national legislation, is required to define torture and other ill-treatment as serious crimes, to introduce and impose adequate sanctions, but also to investigate, prosecute and penalize any act of torture or ill-treatment (Article 12 of the UN Convention), to ensure in its legal system that the victim of an act of torture obtains redress and has an enforceable right to fair and adequate compensation (Article 14 of the UN Convention), as well as to fully implement the principle of non-refoulement (Article 3 of the UN Convention) and the principle of non-exclusion of evidence (Article 15 of the UN Convention)11. On 18 July, within the International Prisoners’ Justice Day that commemorated the hundredth anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s birth, the NMPT representatives met with prisoners of the pre-trial detention facility in Białystok. The Deputy Commissioner for Human Rights spoke to the prisoners gathered in the meeting room about the idea of the International Prisoners’ Justice Day and pointed to the Nelson Mandela’s Rules. A member of the NMPT emphasized the importance of increasing public awareness and building the culture of non-acceptance More on the round table: https://www.rpo.gov.pl/pl/content/panstwo-bez-tortur-konferencja On 9.04.2018 Deputy Commissioner for Human Rights requested the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to assess the Polish legislation from the point of view of the prohibition of torture, and to provide examples of other countries’ legislation that includes a definition of the offence. 11 The opinion is available at: https://www.rpo.gov.pl/pl/content/opinia-odihr-dotycz%C4%85ca-definicji-tortur-i-bezwzgl%C4%99dnego-zakazu-ich-stosowania-w-polskim 9 10 20 PART II – how does the NMPT work?