To support implementation of efficient media communication strategies at the educational level, two international experts – a teaching professor of the Police Academy of Georgia and the head of the EU assistance project for the Ministry of Interior of Iraq –, were invited to present best international practices in teaching media relations to 50 lecturers from police education faculties. A team of four Ukrainian experts used the international experience presented to develop a training programme targeting heads of regional offices of the MoI. The PCU conducted 16 training sessions throughout Ukraine for 250 senior police officers from 22 oblasts and the cities of Kyiv and Sevastopol. The training curriculum included sessions on legislative regulations of journalists` rights and best practices in communication for law enforcement agencies. Two groups of local experts developed recommendations on teaching media relations to law enforcement officers, as well as leaflets on communication during investigations for the police. National Prevention Mechanism against Torture and Ill-Treatment The PCU continued to provide support to the development of the national prevention mechanism against torture and ill-treatment (NPM) in Ukraine pursuant to the UN OPCAT. The Project assistance was requested by the Parliamentary Ombudsman of Ukraine and built upon previous PCU OPCAT-related projects in 2006-2012. It was aimed at supporting efforts to bring sustainable operation of the NPM in Ukraine in compliance with the UN OPCAT. Its activities focused on support to the Ombudsman and civil society’s efforts to implement the “Ombudsman Plus” NPM model in Ukraine. In order to provide methodological support and build the capacity of the Ombudsman office in developing the Ombudsman Plus model in Ukraine, the PCU supported the development of minimum standards of detention to be used for monitoring visits as well as relevant accompanying documents, proposals and commentaries to that effect (hereinafter – minimum standards). The working group established by the PCU and acting under the aegis of the Ukrainian Ombudsman presented its findings and recommendations for the minimum standards on the treatment of detainees and conditions of detention for public discussion at a roundtable held on 28 November. This event focused on the manual Minimum Standards on Treatment of Detainees: The Analysis of National and International Experience developed by the working group and published with PCU support. Participants included 28 Ukrainian governmental officials, human rights experts and other relevant actors involved in the implementation of the OPCAT as well as mass-media representatives. During the event the Ombudsman’s NPM representative highlighted the importance of the manual and the Ombudsman’s commitment to use it in NPM activities. The PCU also supported the revision and new edition of a comprehensive national catalogue of detention facilities of Ukraine. The data collected under the inventory of detention facilities were processed and compiled for each relevant governmental agency and region. The new edition covers approximately 3,600 governmental facilities that fall under the OPCAT definition of “places of detention”. The updated edition was released in December. On 9-10 September, the PCU organized a study visit of the Ombudsman’s NPM officers as well as representatives of NGOs engaged in the NPM to the office of the Spanish Ombudsman to learn about the experience, methodological approaches and practice of the “Ombudsman Plus” model in Spain, including the active engagement of civil society through the Spanish Torture Prevention Network. The PCU also continued to support monitoring visits of detention facilities as well as related training in order to strengthen the methodological capacity of monitoring groups in Ukraine. 113