with the Convention against Torture, the Optional Protocol and the Paris Principles. The mechanism should develop a system to ensure that it is alerted to relevant legislation and draft laws. 41. Legislation should clearly state the obligation of competent authorities to examine the recommendations of the national preventive mechanism and to enter into a dialogue with it regarding the implementation of its recommendations. ÎÎVII. Cross-cutting issues A. Cooperation and communication 42. The national preventive mechanism should establish: (a) a mechanism for communicating and cooperating with relevant national authorities on the implementation of recommendations, including through urgent action procedures; (b) a means for addressing and resolving any operational difficulties encountered during the exercise of its duties, including during visits; (c) a policy on publicizing reports or parts of reports, including the main findings and recommendations; and (d) a policy regarding the production and publication of thematic reports. 43. The national preventive mechanism should establish a strategy for cooperation with other national and international actors, including the Subcommittee, on the prevention of torture and on the followup of cases of suspected or documented torture or ill-treatment and of possible reprisals. A wide range of national actors, such representatives of non- governmental organizations, trade unions, concerned social and professional organizations, trends in philosophical or religious thought, universities and qualified experts, Parliament and government departments, could be included.24 Special attention should be paid to developing relations with civil society members devoted to dealing with vulnerable groups.25 44. The mechanism should establish a strategy for making its mandate and work known to the general public and a simple, accessible and confidential procedure through which the general public might provide it with relevant information. B. Systematization of experiences 45. The national preventive mechanism should ensure that important concrete and contextual observations arising from its visits to institutions and stemming from other reliable sources, its recommendations and the responses from the authorities are categorized, filed and systematically processed for use in dialogue with the authorities, in the ongoing planning of work and in the further development of its strategies. C. Prioritizing resources 46. While the national preventive mechanism should prioritize the most problematic issues and institutions, it should not exclude from the scope of its work any particular form of institution or geographical area or any national preventive mechanism task other than visiting. D. Annual report 47. The annual report of the national preventive mechanism should include: (a) Accounts of current challenges to the protection of the rights of persons deprived of their liberty and to the effective execution of the mechanism’s mandate, and strategic short-term and longer term plans, including with respect to setting priorities; (b) Analysis of the most important findings and an account of recommendations and the responses of the authorities thereto; (c) Follow-up on issues outstanding from previously published reports; (d) Consideration of thematic issues; (e) Accounts of cooperation with other actors on the prevention of torture; (f) An overview of all other national preventive mechanism activities undertaken and their outcomes. 24 Paris Principles. 25 Ibid. ANNEXES I 51