5.1. Planning and preparing the visits location, I designated the head of the visiting delegation and preparations were started. The head of the visiting delegation studied the conclusions and recommendations of the Ombudsman’s earlier reports on visiting that particular location or other, similar places, and the reports prepared by other National Preventive Mechanisms or international organizations, domestic and foreign civil organizations engaged in inspecting places of detention. Visiting delegations also verified the implementation of recommendations set forth in my earlier reports on visits conducted while performing my general fundamental rights protection tasks. In certain cases, upon the initiative of the heads of the visiting delegations, I also involved in the visits’ preparation persons with practical knowledge of the operation of the designated place of detention, i.e., experts by experience. The reports of these experts by experience facilitated the detection of facts and circumstances leading to ill-treatment. My Office handled both the personal data and the contents of the reports of the experts by experience confidentially.66 Visits were conducted in accordance with an inspection plan prepared by the head of the visiting delegation and approved by me. In addition to the name of the place of detention, the inspection plans contained the date of the visit, names, qualifications and official positions of the members of the visiting delegation. I approved the main aspects of the visits together with the inspection plans, as their attachments. 5.1.1. The composition of the visiting delegations Pursuant to Article 18, Paragraph (2) of the OPCAT, the experts of the National Preventive Mechanism shall have the required capabilities and professional knowledge. When setting up the visiting delegations, in addition to the gender balance I tried to ensure the group’s multidisciplinarity and include experts in the field of protecting the rights of national and ethnic minorities. In 2016, visits were carried out by delegations consisting of four to eight persons, whom I designated upon the recommendation of the heads of delegation. When setting up visiting delegations, in addition to my colleagues’ qualifications I also took into consideration the size and holding capacity of the designated place of detention, the gender composition and the average age of the persons deprived of their liberty. To perform tasks arising in the course of my general activities aimed at protecting fundamental rights, my Office employs mainly public ser66 See Article 21, Paragraph (2) of the OPCAT. 33