the Bar Association, the Medical Association and the Psychologists Association. Three of its members are personalities of recognised merit and two elements are representatives of civil society organizations with a relevant activity to NPM aim. The constitution of the Advisory Council shows the plural approach that it is desirable to an organ that gives an opinion about annual activity plan and report, could also propose adjustments to EMNP’s operation. As it is regulated, the Advisory Council meets whenever convened by the president and, at least, twice a year, as it happened in 2015. The first meeting occurred on January 29th and its purpose was the conclusion of co-optation procedure of two civil society organization’s representatives. As a result, Amnesty International and Portuguese Association for Victim Support had to be added to the Advisory Council. The second meeting was realized on June 17th and aimed the appreciation of NPM’s annual report of 2014(8), which had a unanimous opinion. 1.3.2. The Steering Committee The Steering Committee develops the annual activity plan and prepares the NPM visits planning, making a proposal about the definition of places detention that should be visited and their objects. This coordination organ is composed by an Ombudsman’s Cabinet member and the coordinators of the thematic units 5 (dedicated to security and justice’s rights) and 6 (committed to questions about rights, freedoms and guarantees, health, education and constitutionality valuations). In the most of visits, one member of the Steering Committee is present. 1.3.3. The Visitors Team The Visitors Team is composed, primarily, by nine persons of the Ombudsman’s staff who are specially appointed for that purpose due to their longer experience and technical and scientific knowledges. As it was mentioned in the Annual Report of 2014(9), NPM took steeps with the Advisory Council’s members which are representatives of professional associations in order to concrete a list of experts to accompany NPM visitors. (8)  In accordance with the subparagraph d), of article 7, of EMNP regulation. (9)  Cf. Annual Report of National Preventive Mechanism 2014, p. 11. 10 |