toolkit, is key to the effective prevention of torture and the effective investigation of the allegations. Elaboration and public dissemination of clear legal standards and assessments, too, contributes greatly to respect for the absolute ban on torture. To this end, independent experts were commissioned to carry out a comprehensive study of the legal standards developed through the annual and ad hoc National Preventive Mechanism reports of the Human Rights Defender, the legal analysis preformed, and the decisions adopted in respect of violations of rights of persons deprived of their liberty in specific cases. The outcome brought together all the findings reached by the Human Rights Defender in the capacity of the National Preventive Mechanism, which were systemic and contained legal standards and principles. The study used a particular methodology for classification according to the types of places of deprivation of liberty: 1) Places for Holding Arrested Persons in the Police (PHAPs), 2) Penitentiary institutions (PIs), 3) Cells in courts for holding persons deprived of liberty, 4) Vehicles designated for transporting persons deprived of liberty, and 5) Psychiatric institutions. Each of the six sections of the Legal Standards of the Human Rights Defender in the capacity of the National Preventive Mechanism contains several subsections. Al the sections, subsections, and paragraphs are numbered to facilitate practical use. Some paragraphs are accompanied with relevant examples or commentaries to the standard contained therein. Hence, this compilation brings together the legal standards developed by the Staff of the Human Rights Defender in the capacity of the National Preventive Mechanism. The legal standards will be of practical use to not only the Staff of the Human Rights Defender, but also other competent state bodies, international and non-governmental organizations active in the sector, persons deprived of their liberty, and all citizens in general. 10