Article 3 The Ministry of Justice shall be responsible for the implementation of the Protocol. Article 4 In connection with Article 17 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture or Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment the Republic of Slovenia hereby makes the following statement: “The competences and tasks of national preventive mechanism under the Optional Protocol, in compliance with Article 17 shall be carried out by the Human Rights Ombudsman, and with his agreement also non-governmental organisations registered in the Republic of Slovenia and organisations that have obtained the status of humanitarian organisations in the Republic of Slovenia.” Article 5 1. The tasks and authorities of national preventive mechanism under this protocol shall be performed by the Human Rights Ombudsman. In carrying out monitoring at places of detention and checking the treatment of persons who have been deprived of their liberty, non-governmental organisations registered in the Republic of Slovenia and organisations that have obtained the status of humanitarian organisations in the Republic of Slovenia, which deal with the protection of human rights or fundamental freedoms, especially in the field of preventing torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of punishment, may cooperate with the Ombudsman in carrying out the tasks and authorities of the Ombudsman under this protocol. 2. Organisations that will cooperate in the implementation of tasks and authorities under the provisions of the previous paragraph shall be chosen on the basis of public tender, which will be held by the Ombudsman, who will also decide on the choice of organisations. The content of the public tender must be in compliance with Article 4 of this Act and statutory regulations issued on the basis of the fourth paragraph. 3. Persons from the selected organisations who will cooperate in implementing the tasks and authorities of national preventive mechanism under this Protocol shall provide a prior written declaration that in performing these tasks and authorities they will work according to the instructions of the Human Rights Ombudsman and work according to regulations on the protection of the confidentiality of personal and confidential information, as these apply for the Ombudsman and his deputies and staff. 4. Necessary costs and rewards of persons from organisations that perform tasks or implement authorities under the first paragraph shall be paid by the Human Rights Ombudsman from budget headings of the Obudsman, according to rules which the Ombudsman shall issue after the prior approval of the minister responsible for finance. The rules shall be published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia. Article 6 This Act shall take effect on 1 January 2007. No. 713-03/91-4/4 Ljubljana, 29 September 2006 EPA 1008-IV President National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia France Cukjati, M.D., l.r. 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 115