PP ANNUAL REPORT ON THE PERFORMANCE OF ACTIVITIES OF THE NPM N PM institution of detention; they are also entitled to interview other persons who may provide relevant information regarding the suspected violation of human rights in the visited establishment. Due to the fact that financial independence is one of the criteria of the so-called “Paris Principles”, funding for the performance of the activities specified in the ANPM is allocated in the State Budget as a particular item within the budget of the Ombudsman’s Office. 1.2. Commencement of NPM activities in the Republic of Croatia After the funds had been allocated in the State Budget for 2012 for the activities of the NPM, the Ombudsman developed the Ordinance on the Procedure of Appointment and Manner of Work of the Representatives of Associations and Representatives of the Academic Community in the National Preventive Mechanism Against Torture and Other Cruel and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (Official Gazette, No. 22/2012). He also rendered a Decision on the Amount of Remuneration for the Work of the NPM and launched a public invitation to higher education institutions and non-governmental organisations registered for the performance of activities in the area of the protection of human rights to submit their proposals for their representatives in the NPM. The appointment of two representatives from the academic community and two representatives from nongovernmental organisations were the necessary conditions for the beginning of work of the NPM. At the first meeting held on 12 July 2012, the method and the working plan for 2012 were agreed upon and the activities of the NPM in the Republic of Croatia began in conformity with OPCAT. The Ombudsman informed the SPT, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (hereinafter referred to as: CPT) and the Association for the Prevention of Torture (hereinafter referred to as: APT) about the commencement of the NPM. 9