Report of the Human Rights Defender on the activities of the National Preventive Mechanism in Poland in 2012 5. International cooperation The members of the NPM Team attended international conferences dedicated to the prevention of torture. As in the previous years, the representatives of the National Preventive Mechanism took part in two series of thematic workshops organised by the Council of Europe.11 The workshop in Geneva on 20 – 21 March 2012 focused on removal process monitoring12, while the ninth workshop in Belgrade on 12 – 13 June 2012 was devoted to illegal migrants13. The meeting was attended by the representatives of Frontex, APT, SPT, CPT national preventive mechanisms and organisations to which the states entrusted the task of removal process monitoring.14 The workshop focused on territorial jurisdiction of removal monitoring authorities and responsibility for removals organised by Frontex. Between 19 and 22 March 2012, a  general annual meeting of the International Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions was held at the United Nations Office in Geneva. A representative of the NPM Team delivered a speech about the implementation of the OPCAT and the operations of the Mechanism in Poland. The workshops were organised under the programme “Setting up an active network of national preventive mechanisms against torture, an activity of the Peer-to-Peer Network.” 12 The immigration removal process and preventive monitoring. (The workshop included a discussion on minimum standards to be ensured to deported inmates, from the moment of preparation to the removal procedure (fit-to-fly), through transport to the airport, stay at the airport, entry on board an aircraft and the flight. Furthermore, particular attention was paid to the revocation of the removal procedure and the return of a prisoner to the place of detention (the so-called failed removal), use of coercive measures and medical issues). 13 The workshop focused on territorial jurisdiction of removal monitoring bodies and responsibility for removals organised by the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (Frontex). 14 Poland has not implemented the Directive 2008/115/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third-country nationals (the so-called “Returns Directive”) yet, although the deadline for its implementation expired on 24 December 2010. The new draft Act on foreigners implementing the provisions of the Returns Directive entrusts the task of monitoring the removals to the following non-governmental organisations: The Halina Nieć Legal Aid Center, (its representative participated in the workshop), the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights and the Association for Legal Intervention). It should be noted that, pursuant to Article 4 of the OPCAT, national preventive mechanisms have the right to monitor the process of removal of foreigners. 11 14