However, they may only be removed from office early subject to the prerequisites of sections 21 and 24 of the German Judiciary Act (Deutsches Richtergesetz). In accordance with the administrative agreement, the Federal Agency and the Joint Commission must coordinate the planning and implementation of their projects. Regular working meetings of the entire Agency take place to this end. 2.2 Tasks and powers The tasks and powers of the National Agency for the Prevention of Torture are set out in the Optional Protocol, which has been transposed into national law, as well as in the Administrative Order of the Federal Ministry of Justice of 20 November 2008 and in the State Treaty of 25 June 2009. The National Agency visits “places of detention”, draws attention to problems and makes recommendations to the authorities for improvements. In accordance with Article 4 para. 1 OP-CAT, such “places of detention” are any place under the jurisdiction and control of the State where persons are or may be deprived of their liberty, either by virtue of an order given by a public authority or at its instigation or with its consent or acquiescence. The powers of the National Agency with regard to the facilities referred to at item I. 1 accrue from Articles 19 and 20 OP-CAT (read in conjunction with No. 3 of the Administrative Order and Art. 2 of the State Treaty). In accordance with Article 19, the National Agency is hence empowered    to regularly examine the treatment of the persons deprived of their liberty in places of detention as defined in article 4 of the OPCAT, with a view to strengthening, if necessary, their protection against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; to make recommendations to the relevant authorities with the aim of improving the treatment and the conditions of the persons deprived of their liberty and to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, taking into consideration the relevant norms of the United Nations; to submit proposals and observations concerning existing or draft legislation. In accordance with Article 20 OP-CAT, the States Parties are obliged to grant to the national preventive mechanisms, that is the Federal Agency and the Joint Commission,  access to all information concerning the number of persons deprived of their liberty in places of detention as defined in Article 4 OP-CAT, as well as the number of places and their location; 14