NORWEGIAN PARLIAMENTARY OMBUDSMAN National Preventive Mechanism ANNUAL REPORT 2020 48 FOLLOW-UP AFTER VISITS An important part of the preventive work of the NPM takes place after the report has been ­published. The institutions visited are asked to provide written feedback regarding how our rec­ ommendations have been followed up within three months after the publication of the visit report.3 On the basis of the written report, we evaluate whether the measures implemented by the institutions are satisfactory. If necessary, we request supplementa­ ry information. All correspondence with institutions is public and published on our website.4 During the year, the Ombudsman has had dialogue with a number of institutions previously visited. Some recommendations require limited effort from the institutions, whilst others are more challenging. This means that in some cases, the NPM’s work after visits can take some time, whilst in other cases it is concluded relatively quickly. Follow-up concluded in 2020 Child Welfare › Buskerud and Vestfold Emergency Youth Centre, Barkåker › Stendi Nymogården › Olivia Solhaugen › Humana East, Jessheim and Hol Mental Healthcare › Levanger Hospital, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry › Psychiatric Clinic, Sandviken Hospital › St. Olav’s Hospital, Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinic, Lian Prisons Throughout 2020, we have had dialogue with twelve institutions visited in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Four of these were not concluded at the end of the year. The feedback we have received during 2020 indi­ cates in general that the institutions followed up on recommendations in a thorough manner. A number of measures have been implemented to reduce the risk of inhuman and degrading treatment. In some cases, institutions have been surprised by our findings; however, in many cases the institutions recognised the issues we raised. This forms the basis for constructive dialogue about risks and the need for change. At the same time, it emphasizes the importance of visits by the NPM. Challenges may be evident, but there can still be a need for an external driver to ensure changes. › Oslo Prison Follow-up not concluded at the end of 2020 Child Welfare › Jong Youth Centre Mental Healthcare › Stavanger Hospital, Section for Mental Health Care, Children and Adolescent › Østfold Hospital, where visits were conducted at two security sections and the Section for Geriatric Psychiatry 3 The follow-up letters from the institutions and subsequent correspondence with the Ombudsman is published on the Ombudsman’s website. See: https://www.sivilombudsmannen.no/en/visit-reports/ 4 The letters are published via the link “Follow-up” of each individual visit: https://www.sivilombudsmannen.no/en/visit-reports/