monitoring activities New framework for the Ombudsman’s monitoring visits other times, they are related to very specific issues. For instance, at an accommodation facility for young people, we asked why some of the young residents’ rooms were situated in the basement. As a result, the accommodation facility, on its own initiative, established rooms for the residents on the first floor instead. In certain cases, we assess that the case cannot be concluded through verbal dialogue alone. In these cases, we ask the institution to forward a written statement to us after our visit, and subsequently, we will state our opinion of the case in writing. For instance, the Ombudsman asked for a written statement in a The basis for the Ombudsman’s monitoring visits The Ombudsman carries out the following types of monitoring visits in accordance with the Parliamentary Ombudsman Act: - Visits to public institutions in order to assess whether the institutions comply with the law and good administrative practice. The Ombudsman’s monitoring visits may include universal human and humanitarian considerations. - Visits to public and private institutions where persons are or may be deprived of their liberty, in order to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (the Ombudsman has been appointed ‘National Preventive Mechanism’ in accordance with the OPCAT Protocol – the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment). - Visits to public and private institutions for children, among other things in order to ensure that the rights of children are observed. These types of monitoring visits can be combined. Within the OPCAT field, the Ombudsman carries out his task as National Preventive Mechanism in collaboration with DIGNITY – Danish Institute Against Torture and the Danish Institute for Human Rights. DIGNITY and the Danish Institute for Human Rights contribute to the collaboration with special medical and human rights expertise. Thus, for instance, staff with expertise in these fields participate on behalf of the two institutions in planning, carrying out and follow­ ing up on monitoring visits. The managements of the Ombudsman, DIGNITY and the Danish Institute for Human Rights meet at least once a year to discuss and organise the general framework for the OPCAT work. This collaboration is called the OPCAT Council. Each of the three institutions has appointed staff members to participate on a permanent basis in the ongoing work in connection with the actual monitoring visits, the preparation of reports, etc. Members of the Ombudsman’s staff act as secretariat and have the general responsibility for the planning of the work. This element of the collaboration is called the OPCAT Work Group. In 2013, DIGNITY participated in 27 monitoring visits and the Danish Institute for Human Rights participated in 15 monitoring visits. The Ombudsman’s special advisor on chil­ dren’s issues participates in monitoring visits to institutions for children. For more information (primarily in Danish), see www.ombudsmanden.dk. 75