2014-2015 REPORT ON NATIONAL PREVENTION OF TORTURE Methodology for performance of the national prevention of torture On 5 February 2014, the Head of the Seimas Ombudsmen’s Office approved the Programme for Implementation of National Prevention of Torture establishing tasks and measures of national prevention of torture. The Programme for National Prevention of Torture contains analysis of the number of institutions in Lithuania falling into the category of places of detention defined in the Optional Protocol, models of activities and experience of national preventive mechanisms of other countries, the Optional Protocol Implementation Manual prepared by the Association for the Prevention of Torture, the Guidelines on National Preventive Mechanisms drawn up by the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment of the Committee against Torture of the United Nations (the Subcommittee on Prevention) as well as standards, recommendations and reports of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (the Committee against Torture). The Programme also discusses types and methodology of inspection of places of detention. questionnaires cover the most important issues related to ensuring security and suicide prevention, use of special, restrictive and disciplinary measures, material conditions of detention (housing), nutrition, health care, ensuring persons’ independence and autonomy as well as provision of information and examination of complaints. These questionnaires are prepared taking into account the requirements of national and international legal acts as well as the standards of the Committee against Torture. Preparation for inspections included analysis of the requirements provided for in legal acts, the standards of the Committee against Torture and its reports following visits to Lithuania as well as collection of material on the institution to be inspected. Institutions were not notified in advance of questionnaire-based inspections. All inspections lasted no more than one day. No inspections lasted several days or were carried out during non-working days or public holidays. In the course of performance of the national prevention of torture, questionnaire-based inspections, thematic inspections and in-depth inspections are carried out. QUESTIONNAIRE-BASED INSPECTIONS In 2014, thirty five questionnaire-based inspections were conducted. Out of that number, 10 questionnaire-based were carried out in social care institutions, 1 – in mental institution, 9 – in police custody facilities and premises of temporary detention, 5 – in imprisonment institutions, and 10 – in institutions of detention and accommodation of foreigners. This type of inspection is based on completing questionnaires adapted to each institution; these In 2015, thirty questionnaire-based inspections were conducted: 19 inspections in social care In 2014 and in 2015 the majority of conducted inspections were questionnaire-based. 5