to ascertain when urine and drug tests are ordered in correctional institutions as well as where – and especially – how they are conducted. Previous reports showed that there is a need for improvement that should not be ignored in order to exclude human rights violations in the future to the greatest possible extent. A number of investigative proceedings were initiated with the Federal Ministry of Justice in accordance with the Commissions’ observations. Human Rights Advisory Council advises the NPM The members of the AOB will define several investigative focal points for 2013 jointly with the Chairpersons of the Commissions. During this process, suggestions by the Human Rights Advisory Council, which advises the AOB with regard to determining general investigative focal points, will be taken into account Investigation in numbers The development phase of the National Preventive Mechanism Kick-off workshop In the constitutive meeting on 10 July 2012, the AOB and the Commissions decided that the first activities would not begin until after a joint kick-off workshop, which took place in mid-September. The primary objective of the kick-off workshop was to provide some basic knowledge regarding the fundamental legal principles of a National Preventive Mechanism. At the same time, the goal was to develop a common understanding of the applicable investigative standards and to develop a keener awareness of the competences of the Commissions and the AOB. Shadow monitoring Additionally, in November the AOB organised a shadow monitoring training module in collaboration with the Council of Europe. In this three-day seminar, the NPM shared its initial experiences with six experts from the Council of Europe. The methodology for preparing monitoring and control visits, conducting visits in six selected institutions and analysis of the findings were at the forefront of the training. Not least because of the extremely positive feedback by the Commission members, additional seminars of this kind are planned with international participants. 44