Preface Since 1 July 2012, the Austrian Ombudsman Board (AOB) is also competent for preventive monitoring: It is now part of its mandate to monitor and control all institutions and facilities, in which persons with and without disabilities may be helpless and at risk of abuse, inhuman treatment and measures that restrict their freedom. This investigative mandate means that a total of more than 4,000 public and private institutions and facilities will be monitored and controlled by the AOB. The Austrian Ombudsman Board shall assume these duties as the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) jointly with the Commissions that it has established. While the new competences are consistent with the previous duties of the Austrian Ombudsman Board, they are also expanding the range of competences significantly; therefore, a reorientation of the AOB was required. It was necessary to create new networks and the cooperation with international organisations became an even greater priority. The exchange of information with other groups and experts from various disciplines (for example, medicine, nursing sciences, psychology) have changed not only the work environment of the Austrian Ombudsman Board but the substance of its work as well. This report describes the previous activities relative to preventive monitoring and control and provides information about the investigations undertaken in the period under review. For the first time other stakeholders have the opportunity to voice their opinions in a report of the Austrian Ombudsman Board: The Human Rights Advisory Council as an advisory body and the six Commissions of the AOB, which commenced their work mid-year 2012 and which are undertaking monitoring and control activities on an ongoing basis. The protection of fundamental rights was always a central priority in the Austrian Ombudsman Board’s ex-post control activities. The violation of human rights was always considered the most egregious form of maladministration on the part of authorities. The new mandate of the Austrian Ombudsman Board now ranges from preventive to ex-post monitoring and control of human rights and the rights of persons with disabilities. This significantly increases the opportunities to protect human rights.