Izvajanje nalog in pooblastil državnega preventivnega mehanizma od začetka delovanja v letu 2008 do leta 2014 DPM t. i. jugovzhodne Evrope smo 26. 3. 2013 v Beogradu (Srbija) oblikovali mrežo z imenom SouthEast Europe NPM Network (SEE NPM Network),10 katere namen je med drugim vzpostaviti boljše sodelovanje, izmenjavo izkušenj in izvesti številne skupne dejavnosti za učinkovitejše opravljanje nalog in pooblastil DPM za navedeno območje, ki izhajajo iz Opcijskega protokola. Ob tej priložnosti so predstavniki DPM Albanije, Črne gore, Hrvaške, Makedonije, Slovenije in Srbije (ob navzočnosti enega od ombudsmanov iz Bosne in Hercegovine) sprejeli Deklaracijo o sodelovanju, izvolili vodstvo in zastavili prve cilje. Kot veliko priznanje za dosedanje delo Varuha na tem področju štejemo, da je bilo prvo predsedovanje mreži zaupano prav DPM Slovenije. Pozneje sta se mreži pridružila tudi DPM Avstrije in Bolgarije. Predsedovanje tej mreži je sedaj v rokah DPM Albanije. Sicer smo v okviru predsedovanja mreži v Ljubljani 26. in 27. 5. 2014 organizirali srečanje članov mreže. Glavna tema naših pogovorov na srečanju so bila letna poročila DPM, ki so pomemben pripomoček za naše delo. Ena od skupnih ugotovitev na srečanju je bila tudi ta, da je vsakemu DPM pomemben pogled oziroma mnenje SPT na njegovo letno poročilo. Letna poročila DPM namreč vselej predloži tudi SPT, ki ima sedež v Ženevi in ki poskrbi za njihovo objavo na svoji spletni strani (to določa 29. točka Smernic o državnih preventivnih mehanizmih, SPT, Ženeva, 15. do 19. 11. 2010). Pri tem je bilo ugotovljeno, da so nekateri DPM v zvezi s tem s strani SPT že prejeli posamezne pripombe oziroma vprašanja glede posredovanega letnega poročila, zaradi česar se je zastavilo vprašanje (enotnega) pristopa SPT na tem področju, prav tako pa se kaže tudi potreba po morebitni enotni metodologiji. Udeleženci srečanja so pri tem menili, da bi bilo treba na tem področju vzpostaviti enotna načela komunikacije. The NPMs of so-called south-eastern Europe formed a network entitled South-East Europe NPM Network (SEE NPM Network),10 in Belgrade (Serbia) on 26 March 2013, the purpose of which is inter alia to establish better cooperation, exchange experience and implement numerous joint activities to improve the efficiency of performing duties and powers of the NPM in the relevant field which derive from the Optional Protocol. On this occasion, representatives of the NPM from Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia and Serbia adopted a Declaration on Cooperation, elected management and set their first objectives. As a sign of recognition of the current work of the Ombudsman in this field, the first presidency of the network was entrusted to the NPM Slovenia. The NPMs of Austria and Bulgaria later joined the network. The presidency of the network is currently held by the NPM Albania. A meeting of the network was organised during our presidency in Ljubljana between 26 and 27 May 2014. The main topic of our discussions were NPM annual reports, which are important tools for our work. One of joint findings of the meeting was that the view or the opinion of the SPT about their annual reports are important to every NPM. The annual reports of the NPM are always also submitted to the SPT, which has its head office in Geneva and publishes these reports on its website (determined in Item 29 of the Guidelines on National Preventive Mechanisms, SPT, Geneva, 15–19 November 2010). It was thus established that certain NPMs received individual comments or questions relating to submitted annual reports from the SPT due to which a question of the (uniform) approach of the SPT in this field was raised and the need for a uniform methodology arose. The participants at the meeting also believed that uniform principles of communication have to be established in this field. Udeleženci srečanja so nadalje še posebej ugotavljali pomen komunikacije in dialoga SPT tudi s posamezno državo (ne le z DPM), ko gre za uresničevanje priporočil DPM. Navzoči predstavniki DPM so bili prepričani, da bi se delu DPM dala še posebna teža, če bi npr. tudi država pogodbenica Opcijskega protokola prejela pismo SPT (kot zunanjega organa) z vprašanjem glede uresničevanja priporočil DPM. Tako je bilo že storjeno v primeru Bolgarije, kar je bilo v veliko pomoč DPM te države. Prav pristojni organi države imajo obveznost obravnavanja priporočil DPM in vzpostavitve dialoga z njim o mogočih ukrepih za njihovo izvajanje. Zato smo prisotni DPM na srečanju v Ljubljani v maju 2014 SPT spodbudili, da nadaljuje s tovrstno prakso tudi v prihodnje oziroma jo po potrebi še okrepi. The participants further established the significance of communication and dialogue with the SPT and also with individual states (not only with the NPM) when implementing NPM recommendations. The NPM agreed that special emphasis would be given to the work of the NPM if, for example, signatory states to the Optional Protocol received a notification from the SPT (as an external body) with questions relating to implementing NPM recommendations. This happened in the case of Bulgaria, which was of great help to the NPM of this state. It is the obligation of competent state authorities to discuss NPM recommendations and establish dialogue with it on possible measures for their implementation. The participating NPMs at the meeting in Ljubljana in May 2014 encouraged the SPT to continue this practice in the future and further intensify it if necessary. Nekaj statističnih podatkov o obiskih Prvi obisk je Varuh kot DPM opravil v Prevzgojnem domu Radeče 19. 3. 2008. Skupno je bilo v letu 2008 opravljenih 35 obiskov različnih krajev odvzema prostosti, v letu 2009 41, v letu 2010 44, v letu 2011 46, v letu 2012 46 in v letu 2013 48 obiskov. Večina teh ni bila napovedana, sicer je bilo v letu 2013 le osem obiskov napovedanih vnaprej. Med opravljenimi obiski so bili v letu 2013 štirje obiski tudi kontrolni. Kontrolni obisk se opravi, kadar je smiselno še pred naslednjim rednim obiskom preveriti izvedbo priporočil DPM za odpravo pomanjkljivosti ter izboljšanje razmer in ravnanje z osebami. Uresničevanje priporočil iz predhodnih obiskov DPM sicer redno preverja ob ponovnih obiskih v ustanovi. Pri načrtovanju števila obiskov moramo seveda upoštevati kadrovske zmožnosti, zlasti pa finančna sredstva, ki so nam na razpolago za izvajanje teh dejavnosti. 10  Glej: http://www.varuh-rs.si/o-instituciji/podrocja-dela-varuha/varuh-kot-drzavni-preventivni-mehanizem/south-east-europe-npm-network/. 18 Implementation of Duties and Powers of the National Preventive Mechanism in 2014 poročilo o izvajanju nalog DPM v letu 2014 DržavnI preventivnI mehanizEm po Opcijskem protokolu h Konvenciji OZN proti mučenju in drugim krutim, nečloveškim ali poniževalnim kaznim ali ravnanju Some statistics on visits On 19 March 2008, the Ombudsman as the NPM implemented the first visit in Radeče Juvenile Correctional Facility. In 2008, a total of 35 visits to different places of deprivation of liberty were conducted, 41 in 2009, 44 in 2010, 46 in 2011, 46 in 2012 and 48 in 2013. Most of these visits were unannounced; only eight visits were announced in 2013. Four control visits were implemented in 2013. A control visit is conducted before a regular visit when it is appropriate to verify the implementation of the NPM recommendations for the elimination of deficiencies, improvement of conditions and treatment of people. The realisation of recommendations from preliminary NPM visits is regularly verified at followup visits to institutions. When planning the number of visits, we have to observe our staff capacities and the financial means available for these activities. 10  See: http://www.varuh-rs.si/o-instituciji/podrocja-dela-varuha/varuh-kot-drzavni-preventivni-mehanizem/south-east-europe-npm-network/. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE NPM IN 2014 National Preventive Mechanism under the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 19