countries. Experiences on different issues were shared through the European NPM network, by e-mail. In Addition, study visits of the NPM were carried out in Spain and Serbia; in return the NPM of Georgia hosted Czech and Ukrainian colleagues and shared its experience. 1.3.  REVIEW OF THE WORKING METHODOLOGY AND STAFF TRAINING 1.3.1.  ADVISORY COUNCIL According to the decision of the Public Defender, the NPM advisory Council was created from December 2014. Advisory Council was established for the purposes of supporting the effectiveness of NPM in prevention of torture and other forms of ill-treatment. Members of the Council provide their opinions concerning different activities, working methodology, thematic studies, professional trainings, in relation to various strategic documents and other issues connected with the NPM activities. The members of the Council will support the NPM in strengthening the communication with academic circles, donors and other stakeholders. It should be noted that the advisory Council in various countries significantly contribute to the strengthening of the NPM work in their respected countries and facilitate involvement of interested professionals in their activities. 1.3.2.  WORKING METHODOLOGY The NPM has worked extensively for reviewing and updating monitoring instruments in 2014. Updates were made to the monitoring instruments for small family-type homes for children, separately for prisons for female, juvenile and adult male prisoners. The monitoring instrument for penitentiary institution for female prisoners was developed with the financial assistance of the UN Women. The elaboration of the monitoring Instrument for juvenile prisoners were made possible with the assistance of “Penal Reform International” (PRI) and the UNICEF. The review process of the monitoring instrument concerning prisons for adult male prisoner was financially supported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and was assisted by Ms. Mari Amos, the SPT member. 1.3.3.  STAFF TRAINING Two-day workshop/training was conducted in February 2014 for the NPM members1 with the participation of the SPT member. A three-day workshop was held in June and it was led by Ms. Mari Amos, the SPT member. The guidelines for the visit to the 1 The Special Preventive Group is composed of the permanent staff members of the Department of Preventioned and Monitoring at the Office of the Public Defender of Georgia and the invited members selected on the basis of multidisciplinary composition of the Group. NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM OF GEORGIA 9