Organisational implementation Preliminary work In accordance with the common understanding of this institution – positioning the AOB as the “Human Rights House of the Republic of Austria” – the members of the AOB began with the preliminary work for the necessary organisational changes as early as autumn 2011. The AOB was advised by University Professor Stefan Titscher. In numerous internal events, the entire staff was informed about the new competences and the international framework conditions that had to be adhered to. Two project groups focused on the concrete requirements for business to be conducted as smoothly as possible and on compiling the international and national standards necessary for the fulfilment of the duties. Human Rights Advisory Council After the official publication of the Act on the Implementation of the OPCAT in January 2012, the members of the AOB designated Renate Kicker to be the Chairwoman of the Human Rights Advisory Council and Gabriele Kucsko-Stadlmayer to be the Deputy Chairwoman. The Federal Ministries were requested to name their members and substitute members. In February, the AOB invited more than 100 NGOs, which are dedicated to the protection of human rights, to an informational event. The AOB offered NGOs the opportunity to determine the organisations, which are eligible to nominate members and substitute members of the Human Rights Advisory Council, themselves. The AOB provided organisational support in this process. In its first meeting on 11 April 2012, the designated Human Rights Advisory Council began to discuss the AOB’s draft for its Rules of Procedure (ROP). Formation of the Commissions Concurrently, the AOB publicly advertised the positions of Chairpersons of the Commissions, as well as additional Commission members. The members of the AOB fixed the number of Commissions at six, each Commission consisting of eight members. The AOB received more than 600 applications for the position of member of a Commission. There were statutory regulations to be complied according to which each Commission must be chaired by a “person who is recognised in the sector of human rights”. Overall, the AOB had to ensure that the Commissions were “independent, interdisciplinary and pluralistic“. After several applicant interviews conducted by the members of the AOB in consultation with designated members of the Human Rights Advisory Council, the members of the Commissions were appointed on 11 July 2012. 34