the delegations encountered attitudes on the part of the managers of the institutions and facilities that ranged from mistrustful to hostile. It became obvious during the initial visits that conducting the visits requires a larger number of Commission members. For certain institutions and facilities, in particular for those for persons with disabilities, the inclusion of peer counsellors is necessary. The AOB’s collaborations In this context, the list of relevant professional associations that the AOB provided to the Commissions is a valuable aid. The AOB is also grateful to the associations governed by the Legal Trusteeship for Associations, Patients and Inhabitants of Homes and Institutions Act and to the children and youth advocates for their willingness to cooperate. Based on the cooperation agreements that have been executed, the Commissions now have access to competent contact persons in these institutions. The contacts with NGOs have also provided valuable information. Observations made by the Commissions The following will provide an overview of the Commissions’ observations thus far. On several occasions, the initial assessments of the reports by the Commissions resulted in the initiation of investigative proceedings by the AOB, which have not yet been concluded. Monitoring and control of institutions and facilities in accordance with OPCAT and Art. 16(3) of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Correctional institutions In the year under review, the Commissions conducted investigations of a total of 17 correctional institutions. With the exception of the defined investigative focal point of the conduct of urine and drug testing, the Commission delegations did not have any additional thematic parameters. The comparison of the visit reports, however, shows that the Commissions observed the same problems Austria-wide during these initial, generally unannounced visits. Structural problems and personnel shortages Some of these problems seem to be of a structural nature and the result of shortages of corrections personnel. The UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) had already mentioned the long hours inmates are held in their cells with some concern. A lack of financial 48