ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS CAT Committee against Torture CSO Civil society organization LGBTI Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex NGO Nongovernmental organization NHRI National Human Rights Institution NPM National Preventive Mechanism OHCHR Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights OPCAT Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture SPT Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture UNVFVT United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture vi I PREVENTING TORTURE: THE ROLE OF NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISMS – A PRACTICAL GUIDE