Overview of the National Preventive Mechanism 1.4 Human resources 1.4.1 Personnel In order to implement the OPCAT mandate, the AOB received 15 additional permanent positions in 2012. One permanent position has since been eliminated due to budgetary restrictions. The AOB staff entrusted with NPM responsibilities are legal experts who have experience in the areas of rights of persons with disabilities, children’s rights, social rights, police, asylum and the judiciary. The organisational unit “OPCAT Secretariat” is responsible for coordinating the collaboration with the commissions. It also examines international papers and documents in order to support the NPM with information from similar institutions. 1.4.2 The commissions The NPM entrusts its multidisciplinary commissions (see Annex) with the tasks they have to perform to fulfil the NPM’s responsibilities. If required, the regional commissions may involve experts from other specialist areas provided that members of another commission are not available for this purpose. The commissions are organised according to regional criteria. They usually consist of eight members and one commission head respectively. Six regional commissiones The entire NPM meets once a year to discuss and exchange ideas on observations and experiences as well as material and organisational problems. In 2019 the participants discussed the following topics after keynote speeches: the admission and guarding of mentally ill offenders in public medical facilities, the sanctioning and administrative penal system in correctional institutions, dealing with decrees and minimum standards and the practical implementation thereof, police operations in child and youth welfare facilities as well as standards in child and youth welfare (“FICE standards”). This annual meeting not only reinforces joint collaboration but also the personal cooperation inside the NPM. Annual NPM meeting 1.4.3 Human Rights Advisory Council The Human Rights Advisory Council was established as an advisory body. It is comprised of representatives from NGOs and federal ministries (see Annex). The Human Rights Advisory Council supports the NPM regarding the clarification of monitoring competences and questions that arise during visits and go beyond the problems inherent in an individual case. 16