5. 13 and 14 At the invitation of the Council of Europe, the Deputy Ombudsman, Ivan Šelih, February 2017 attended a meeting of the newly established organisation the Observatory of National Preventive Mechanisms against Torture set up pursuant to the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (NPM Observatory) which was held in Paris, France. The participants learned about the purpose of setting up the NPM Observatory, which will check how individual NPMs are implementing their duties and powers and, where necessary, provide advice on how to improve their effectiveness. 6. 20 February The Deputy Ombudsman, Ivan Šelih, and the Ombudsman’s adviser, mag. 2017 Jure Markič, were asked by the Ministry of Justice to present the role of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia and its implementation of the duties and powers of the NPM, as one of the views of judicial reform, to a Kyrgyz delegation which came to Slovenia to attend a study visit on the sharing of best practice and experience in the strategic planning and drafting of strategic documents in the reform of justice system, so as to gain experience in strategic planning of their own judicial reform. The participants found the presentation to be very interesting, especially with regard to matters associated with the activities of the courts. 7. 23 February The Deputy Ombudsman, Ivan Šelih, and the Ombudsman’s adviser, mag. Jure 2017 Markič, attended the first meeting of the inter-ministerial Working Group for setting up a specialised unit for people with the most severe cases of mental illness, held at the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, which had been appointed by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia in 2016. 8. 10 March 2017 The Deputy Ombudsman, Ivan Šelih, and the Ombudsman’s adviser, Ana Polutnik, attended a meeting of the inter-ministerial group at the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities (the Ministry) on the subject of involuntary placement of people with mental health problems in secure departments of social care institutions on the basis of the Mental Health Act (ZDZdr). The meeting, which focused on establishing progress in this field, was attended by Ministry representatives, representatives of individual social care institutions, the Association of Social Institutions of Slovenia, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Justice, and the Prison Administration. 9. 27 March 2017 The Deputy Ombudsman and Head of the NPM, Ivan Šelih, the Deputy Ombudsman, Miha Horvat, the Ombudsman’s advisers and members of the NPM, Robert Gačnik, mag. Jure Markič and Lili Jazbec, and representatives of nongovernmental organisations which work with the Ombudsman in the context of the NPM met with a CPT delegation (European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment) at the Ombudsman’s office. The CPT delegation was on its regular periodic visit to Slovenia. 10. 28 March 2017 The Deputy Ombudsman, Miha Horvat, and Robert Gačnik, member of the NPM, met with the second part of the CPT delegation (European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment) at the offices of the Ministry of Justice. The CPT delegation was on its regular periodic visit to Slovenia. 11. 30 March 2017 The Ombudsman’s adviser, Lili Jazbec, attended the 27th expert meeting of management and executive employees in the education and training of children and adolescents with special needs. The meeting was organised by the Special Education Association of Slovenia, the Association of Slovenian Training Organisations for People with Special Needs, and the Employment Service of Slovenia. The meeting focused on the education and training of children with special needs from the point of view of inclusion. 26 IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE NPM IN 2017 NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM UNDER THE OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE AND OTHER CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT