CAT/OP/HND/3 13. With regard to the mechanism’s low public profile, the Subcommittee recommends that CONAPREV organize activities to increase its institutional visibility, design a strategy for making its mandate and work known to the general public, and develop a simple, accessible procedure through which the general public can provide it with relevant information.3 The Subcommittee further recommends that the national preventive mechanism organize conferences and workshops, participate proactively in government meetings relating to its mandate and issue reports. In addition, the Subcommittee recommends that the national preventive mechanism increase its contacts and cooperation with other national and international stakeholders such as the relevant ministries, the Office of the National Commissioner for Human Rights and the national preventive mechanisms of other countries. 14. In order to fully discharge its mandate in accordance with article 19 (c) of the Optional Protocol and article 13, paragraph 9, of Decree No. 136/2008, the Subcommittee recommends that the national preventive mechanism take proactive steps to submit proposals and comments concerning existing or draft legislation that deals with the prevention of torture and other forms of ill-treatment. To that end, it should have a strategy for setting priorities and should follow up on the comments that it makes.4 15. The Subcommittee would like to emphasize that the national preventive mechanism should carry out all aspects of its mandate in a manner which does not give rise to actual or perceived conflicts of interest.5 In order to ensure the mechanism’s independence, the Subcommittee recommends that members of the national preventive mechanism refrain from holding or taking up positions which could give rise to conflicts of interest.6 16. The Subcommittee notes that the national preventive mechanism is responsible for monitoring the implementation of any recommendations that the Subcommittee may make with respect to Honduras. The Subcommittee is gratified to have learned that CONAPREV designed a matrix for use in following up on the recommendations set out in the Subcommittee’s report of 2009. The Subcommittee considers this to be an example of good practice. Methodological recommendations 17. In order to assist and advise the national preventive mechanism in its task of protecting persons who have been deprived of their liberty, the Subcommittee is making the following recommendations concerning preparations for visits to places of detention, the methods to be used during such visits and steps to be taken following their completion. Preparations for visits 18. The national preventive mechanism should establish a workplan or programme which, over time, encompasses visits to all locations under the jurisdiction of the State where persons are or may be deprived of their liberty, in accordance with articles 4 and 29 of the Optional Protocol.7 The Subcommittee recommends that the national preventive mechanism develop criteria for selecting the facilities to be visited that will ensure that they are all visited periodically. These criteria should be based on the type and size of the institutions and the severity of the human rights issues of which the mechanism is 3 4 5 6 7 GE.13-40547 CAT/OP/1, para. 33. CAT/OP/12/5, para. 35. CAT/OP/12/5, para. 30. CAT/OP/12/5, para. 19. CAT/OP/12/5, para. 33. 5

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