The representatives of non-governmental organizations and civil society participated at the meetings devoted to making additions and amendments to the composition of the National preventive group established within the Commissioner's Office for the purposes of fulfilling the functions of the national preventive mechanism referred to the Article 1.2 of the Constitutional Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan according to the Article 18-1.1 of the Constitutional Law. The new composition of the NPG was elected through open and transparent elections. Besides the staff members of the Ombudsman Office, several representatives of the civil society were also involved as experts to the elections of the new composition of the NPG. From the beginning of her activity, the Commissioner closely cooperates with the civil society institutions. From the first years of activity at her initiative the Council of Independent Experts that became an innovation in the country experience and united numerous civil society institutions was created at the Office and this council functions at present. As mentioned previously, attraction of civil society members and participation of experts is regularly ensured during the visits and legal awareness events within the frames of the NPM activity, during the meetings held with participation of relevant state agencies, discussions on legislation, in the process of compilation of appropriate reports. Within this framework of activity, close cooperation is built with the Public Committee under the MJ composed of the civil society members. The members of the Committee involved as experts closely participate in the activity of the NPM. The head of the NPG of the Ombudsman was a participant in relevant events conducted during the reviewed period as a member of Public Committee Election Commission under the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan. International cooperation. Further expanding of international relations in 2016, conducted exchanges of experience and opinions created wide space for efficient realization of the Azerbaijani NPM’s activity. The Commissioner as the NPM, closely cooperates with the UN and its Treaty bodies, including CAT, SPT, as well as CPT, COE, EU, OSCE, Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) and other international institutions, as well as foreign NPMs, and shares her experience in the concerned field.Organization of efficient meetings, holding joint events and participation of the Commissioner and the NPG in international events and exchange of experiences in the field of prevention of torture can be shown as the directions of international relations of the Commissioner as the NPM. 77