ANNUAL REPORT OF 2019 ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE SEIMAS OMBUDSMEN’S OFFICE OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL PREVENTION OF TORTURE This part of the Annual Report of the Seimas Ombudsmen presents the activities of the National Prevention of Torture carried out in 2019: the inspections at places of detention; systemic, main issues identified during inspections; issued recommendations on improving the human rights situation and training organised for staff of the places of detention, etc. 28 Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the Seimas Ombudsmen were assigned the task of performing the national prevention of torture at the places of detention and inspecting them on a regular basis, while the Seimas Ombudsmen’s Office was designated as the Institution for the National Prevention of Torture. The year 2019 was the sixth year when the Seimas Ombudsmen have been performing the national prevention of torture, regularly visiting various places of detention and observing how human rights are enforced in them. The performance of the national prevention of torture requires a comprehensive approach, where instead of addressing individual situations, the aim is to identify possible causes of misconduct through systematic analysis of situations of restriction of liberty. These activities are aimed at positive changes to prevent torture, reduce the risk of torture and ill-treatment and improve the treatment of persons whose liberty is restricted. The report below outlines the positive developments achieved in performing activities of the national prevention of torture. II. ACTIVITIES OF THE NATIONAL PREVENTION OF TORTURE Adult care institutions are marked in yellow, child care institutions – in blue, police institutions – in black, prison institutions – in grey, places of detention of foreigners – in green, and mental care institutions – in red. I. NATIONAL PREVENTION OF TORTURE AND THE SEIMAS OMBUDSMEN’S MANDATE On 3 December 2013, further to the ratification by the Seimas of the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, EVERYONE COUNTS 1. Visits to places of detention In performing the national prevention of torture, visits were made to various places of detention: social care, mental health, imprisonment, police and other institutions. The number of visits to institutions in a particular area is planned in proportion to their number. For example, the largest number of visits was made to adult social care homes as their number is the largest (over 180 units). In 2019, a total of 45 (forty-five) visits were made (several inspected institutions were visited two and more times). According to the proportion of