CAT/OP/ITA/1/Add.1 in 2015, they were 22.128, of whom 691 at CIEs; in 2016 (January – April), they were 3.945, of whom 229 at CIEs. Para. 29 121. We reiterate, once again, that expulsion procedures are based upon a case-by-case approach. No mass expulsion takes place at all. Para. 30 122. Like other disembarking places, at Hotspots the first activity is to rescue people, check their health situation and supply them with primary services. Only at the end of these operations - the duration of which is not fixed and depends on the search of the most vulnerable and in specific need of help -following the pre-identification, we carry out police-related activities, in accordance with the legislation in force. 123. With regard to independent monitoring at Hotspots, on March 31, 2016, on the occasion of the “Roadmap’s update”, we have included in it the so-called SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures), as jointly drafted by the Department of Civil Liberties and Immigration and the Department of Public Security, with the contribution from Frontex, EASO and Europol, as well as NGOs, UNHCR, and IOM. SOPs result in a detailed operational guidance, describing the above activities at Italian Hotspots, including each and every role and responsibility. SOPs have been transmitted to all Prefectures and Police HQs., on May 17, 2016. Para. 31 124. As for the role of the NPM, please refer to information above provided under Paras.12,13. First reception – (Hotspot) As already pointed out, SOPs allow to strike an effective balance between the need for a correct identification of migrants and the protection of their rights. In this regard, we stress the following: - Information provided to migrants with regard to the right to apply for international protection is ensured through modalities apt to guarantee full understanding in a language understood by migrants and by a overall multi-staged process; - As for the safeguards envisaged by SOPs, a coordination and monitoring WG has been set up (SOPs Table). It consists of International Organizations’ representatives, including UNHCR and IOM, with the ability to work in an effective and impartial fashion, including by providing operational information, aimed at overcoming management-related criticalities, as identified during the first reception of migrants (meaning, from the disembarkation to the transfer to reception facilities); - The Hotspot approach, to be considered as a team-work modality, allows for internal monitoring, as long as all care providers involved, has the capacity to detect whatsoever criticity, to be indicated to the above SOPs Table, based in Rome; - As for security-related checks, health-care providers of both sexes are always available during the health-care screening; - The identification of vulnerabilities is one of the priorities. In this regard, at Hotspots, there is a specifici oversight system focussed on: women, victims of THB; persons with psychological disease, and so forth; 23