Overview of the National Preventive Mechanism 1 Overview of the National Preventive Mechanism 1.1 Mandate The AOB and its six multidisciplinary commissions have been the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) in Austria since 1 July 2012. Based on a mandate in the Federal Constitution, which is defined in more detail in the Ombudsman Board Act, the commissions visit places of deprivation of liberty, observe and monitor the bodies empowered to issue direct orders and carry our coercive measures, and perform tasks set forth in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) being the monitoring of institutions and programmes for persons with disabilities. 505 monitoring visits by the commissions The commissions conducted 505 monitoring visits in 2019. Most of the initial visits were to institutions for persons with disabilities, retirement and nursing homes, child and youth welfare facilities and psychiatric wards. The classic places of detention such as correctional institutions, police stations and police detention centres are being monitored regularly since 2012. After their visits, the commissions draw up reports on their observations, give human rights assessments and make suggestions to the AOB on how to proceed. All visits are conducted on the basis of the monitoring methodology developed by the Austrian NPM. On follow-up visits the commissions evaluate whether the recommendations have been implemented and improvements have been made. The monitoring framework and methodology can be accessed on the AOB website (https://volksanwaltschaft.gv.at/downloads/1q79s/ Pr%C3%BCfschema%20Methodik%20und%20Veranlassungen%20 ENGLISCH_20160701.pdf). 17 round-table meetings The efficacy of the NPM is also dependent on its acceptance with the institutions and facilities and their respective legal entities. The owners and/or operators of the visited institutions and the authorities frequently meet with the NPM to discuss and exchange ideas. In addition to their monitoring and control work, the commissions held 17 round-table meetings with facilities or their senior administrative departments. Participation in police and prison staff training The AOB contributes its own training module to basic police training since 2017. The aim is to familiarise future policemen and policewomen with the responsibilities and the work of the NPM. AOB employees and members of the commissions taught a total of 74 classes in eleven training centres in 2019: 16 classes in Vienna, ten classes in Graz, nine classes in St. Pölten, eight classes in Ybbs, six classes in Linz, Feldkirch-Gisingen and Traiskirchen respectively, five classes in Absam, four classes in Krumpendorf, three classes in Eisenstadt and one class in Salzburg. Further training courses are planned for 2020. Prison staff have also been trained o the preventive and ex-post control work of the 11