1.3 VISITS TO PLACES OF DEPRIVATION OF LIBERTY While observing suitable legal norms, the NPM makes recommendations to the relevant authorities to improve the conditions and treatment of people and prevent torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. In this regard, it may also submit proposals and comments on applicable or drafted acts. Places of deprivation of liberty in the Republic of Slovenia include in particular: • prisons and all their units and Radeče Juvenile Correctional Facility, • educational institutions, • certain social care institutions – retirement homes and special social care institutions, • psychiatric hospitals, • detention rooms at police stations and Ljubljana Police Detention Centre, • Aliens Centre in Postojna and the Asylum Centre in Ljubljana, • detention rooms operated by the Slovenian Armed Forces, and • all other locations as per Article 4 of the Optional Protocol (for example, police intervention vehicles, etc.). The definition of the deprivation of liberty as per Article 4 of the Optional Protocol also includes any place of deprivation of liberty under the jurisdiction and control of the Republic of Slovenia. In December 2019, the Ombudsman contacted the Ministry of Defence to inquire whether persons were deprived of their liberty at any place under the jurisdiction or control of the Slovenian Armed Forces within the framework of international operations and missions (any type of detention, custody or other accommodation at a location a person cannot willingly leave). The Ministry responded to the inquiry in writing and explained that the members of the Slovenian Armed Forces working outside the territory of the Republic of Slovenia do not conduct procedures involving the deprivation of liberty and do not participate in them. The Ministry further provided legal bases and standards that would bind the Slovenian Armed Forces, in their opinion, if such procedures were to be implemented. After reading the reply, the Ombudsman submitted additional inquiries to the Ministry and pointed out certain other aspects and important international law provisions that regulate this field. In 2019, we visited 63 places of deprivation of liberty, i.e. 27 police stations, six prisons and Radeče Juvenile Correctional Facility, the Aliens Centre, two psychiatric hospitals, 19 social care institutions (retirement homes), four educational institutions or youth homes, and several residential groups operating within these institutions. All visits (except the visit to the Intensive Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit of Ljubljana University Psychiatric Clinic, which was the NPM’s first visit to the institution) were conducted without prior notification. There were 37 regular visits, 13 control ones (during which we particularly examined the realisation of NPM recommendations giv- 9 1.3 VISITS TO PLACES OF DEPRIVATION OF LIBERTY In the role of the NPM, the Ombudsman visits (while observing its annual programme of visits) all locations in the Republic of Slovenia where persons are deprived of their liberty, and inspects how such persons are treated, in order to strengthen their protection against torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or humiliating treatment or punishment.