Contents
FOREWORD ...................................................................................................................... iii
ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ................................................................................... vi
INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 1
I. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS................................................................................. 3
Q1. What is a National Preventive Mechanism?.................................................................4
Q2. Why establish a National Preventive Mechanism?........................................................5
Q3. What are the functions of a National Preventive Mechanism? .......................................6
Q4. Where and when do National Preventive Mechanisms conduct visits? ............................6
Q5. What are the main types of National Preventive Mechanism?........................................8
Q6. What is the relationship between the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and
National Preventive Mechanisms? ........................................................................... 11
Q7. Where can States obtain technical assistance to establish or ensure the effective
functioning of National Preventive Mechanisms? ....................................................... 12
II. KEY CRITERIA FOR AN EFFECTIVE NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM .................. 13
Functional independence ........................................................................................... 15
Membership............................................................................................................... 17
Strategy and continuous assessment .......................................................................... 20
Visiting functions ....................................................................................................... 21
Advisory functions ..................................................................................................... 27
Cooperation functions ............................................................................................... 28
Educational and communication functions ................................................................. 30
Technical assistance – the OPCAT Special Fund .......................................................... 34
III. ANNEXES................................................................................................................... 37
ANNEX 1: Sample resources and tools ...................................................................... 39
ANNEX 2: SPT guidelines on National Preventive Mechanisms ......................................... 40
ANNEX 3: Non-exhaustive list of illustrative questions for interviews with persons
deprived of liberty in police stations/prisons ............................................ 43
ANNEX 4: SPT analytical assessment tool for National Preventive Mechanisms ......... 44
ANNEX 5: NPM assessment matrix for NPMs ............................................................ 52
ANNEX 6: How to contribute to the OPCAT Special Fund .......................................... 66
Iv