Overview of the National Preventive Mechanism EU project for the promotion of the Kosovan Ombudsman In October 2019, Ombudsman Werner Amon also greeted Kosovan Ombudsman Hilmi Jashari and his delegation of eleven leading employees from the Kosovan Ombudsman institution. The visit was organised as part of an EU project for the promotion of the Kosovan Ombudsman institution, in the course of which the delegation visited other institutions in the field of human rights, equal treatment and anti-discrimination. Building on the traditionally close contact between the Austrian and the Kosovan Ombudsman institution, there was a detailed exchange on the mandate, role and challenges of NPMs. Both institutions agreed that productive work which is compliant with the mandate requires sufficient qualified personnel. They also emphasised the importance of public relations work to heighten awareness for the Ombudsman institutions and increase effectiveness of their recommendations. On the part of the Austrian NPM, the presentation of the Annual Report in the Austrian Parliament and the television programme Bürgeranwalt (“Advocate of the people”) were highlighted in particular. Delegation from Ukraine discusses protection in social institutions and psychiatric wards Within the framework of a Council of Europe project for the promotion of the Ukrainian Ombudsman institution a discussion on the topic of a “Preventive approach against inhumane treatment in social institutions and psychiatric wards” was organised. Ombudsman Bernhard Achitz greeted the delegation to two days of sharing their experience and ideas in Vienna. The Ukrainian Ombudsman institution also exercises the NPM mandate and the guests were very interested in the monitoring of “less traditional” places of detention, in particular in monitoring social institutions and psychiatric wards. Both sides shared many practical experiences and approaches in a discussion with experts from the Austrian NPM. A visit to a nursing home in Lower Austria offered the guests practical insights into looking after persons in need of care and the special care concepts for persons suffering from dementia. Council of Europe celebrates 30 years of CPT in Strasbourg On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT), which is located in Geneva, organised an event in Strasbourg together with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, in which the Austrian NPM also participated. The conference focused on the question of which measures have to be initiated to counter abuse and torture during the initial phase of detention. The topic was discussed in detail in the subsequent working meetings with colleagues from NPMs from the different member states. The three-day event ended with an official ceremony to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the CPT. Nafplion Group meets in Rome In October 2019 the Council of Europe organised a meeting of the so-called Nafplion Group together with the Italian NPM and Frontex in Rome. An expert from Austria took part in this meeting. This was the first meeting of the Nafplion Group since it was founded in October 2018. In addition to organisational and structural questions on the composition of the group, it 19