Overview of the National Preventive Mechanism 1 Overview of the National Preventive Mechanism 1.1 Mandate The AOB and its six commissions have been the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) since 1 July 2012. The commissions are headed by persons with a high level of human rights expertise. They are structured on a regional basis and staffed using a multidisciplinary, multi-ethical approach. External experts can also be consulted if a monitoring topic so requires. NPM Commissions Based on a mandate in the Federal Constitution, which is defined in detail in the Ombudsman Board Act, the commissions set up by the AOB visit potential places of deprivation of liberty, observe and monitor the bodies empowered to issue direct orders and carry out coercive measures, and monitor institutions and programmes for persons with disabilities. After their visits, the commissions draw up reports on their observations, give human rights assessments and make suggestions to the AOB regarding how to proceed. All visits are conducted on the basis of the monitoring methodology developed by the Austrian NPM. On follow-up visits commissions evaluate whether the recommendations have been implemented and improvements have been made. The monitoring framework and methodology of the NPM can be accessed on the AOB website. In spite of the very challenging conditions, a total of 448 monitoring visits were carried out by the commissions in 2020 (2019: 505). In addition to their monitoring and control work, the commissions also conducted 14 roundtable discussions with institutions and facilities or their senior administrative departments. Intensive monitoring and control work The NPM was also involved in basic police training in 2020. It has been contributing with its own training module since 2017. The aim is to familiarise future police officers with the responsibilities and the work of the NPM. AOB employees and members of the commissions taught a total of 28 classes at eight training centres in 2020: five classes in Vienna and Graz, seven classes in St. Pölten, one class in Ybbs, three classes in Absams and Krumpendorf respectively, as well as two classes in Linz and Traiskirchen respectively. Further courses have already been scheduled for 2021. Involvement in police and prison officer training Prison officers have also been trained in the AOB’s preventive and ex-post control work as part of their training since 2017. In 2020 there were ten teaching sessions in the training centres in Vienna, Stein, Linz and GrazKarlau. Material learned from this training module is put to the test as part of their qualification examination. 12