NORWEGIAN PARLIAMENTARY OMBUDSMAN National Preventive Mechanism ANNUAL REPORT 2018 52 Right to information To effectively prevent the risk of torture and inhuman treatment, people who have been deprived on their liberty must know their rights, including their right to complain. Findings and recommendations On several of our visits to prisons, mental healthcare institutions and child welfare institutions, we have found that information about rights, including the right to complain, was hard to find and that the staff were not always aware of their duty to make this information available. ›› Follow-up After the visit to Åna Prison, the procedures for distributing information to new inmates have been reviewed to ensure that everyone has access to the information pamphlet. The same has been done at Arendal Prison on the basis of our visit. ›› ››At the police immigration detention centre at Trandum, the administrative decision templates were changed to include separate fields to be filled out when the detainees have been informed of their right to complain, and to ensure that detainees are given the help they need if they want to file a complaint. ››After the NPM's visit to Akershus University Hospital, the psychosis department developed a new procedure to ensure that all patients are given both the administrative decision form and pertaining written notes that contain the grounds for the decision to use cohesive measures. Participation Findings and recommendations During several visits to different sectors, the NPM has seen that people who are deprived of their liberty have not been given an opportunity to influence matters that affect their situation. ›› Follow-up After the NPM’s visit, Ålesund Hospital revised its guidelines for admission interviews so that patients are normally asked questions about their previous experience with use of force. It has also initiated evaluation interviews following the use of coercive measures in accordance with new legislation. ›› ››After the visit to Reinsvoll psychiatric hospital, the department ensured that follow-up interviews now were conducted and documented as part of the evaluation of all use-of-force decisions. ››After the NPM's visit, the child welfare institution Kvammen developed a separate routine to ensure that the residents are able to influence their own situation and treatment. The resident’s participation must be ensured at the admission meeting, when preparing the action plan, at daily and weekly meetings with the main contact person, in weekly plans, follow-up meetings and at the concluding interview.