12 MONITORING OF CUSTODIAL SETTINGS IN UKRAINE: of an agreement with the Ombudsman. Candidates who successfully underwent the training are recommended to the Expert Council for preliminary approval. At the next stage the successful candidates’ CVs are considered by the Expert Council, with interviews if so required. After this the Expert Council recommends the candidacies of public monitors to the Ombudsman for final approval. At the third stage the Ombudsman makes the final decision on approval of candidates recommended by the Expert Council and gives them personal assignments entitling to conduct monitoring visits of custodial settings, for a term of one year with possible prolongation. During monitoring visits the monitors are vested with all rights envisaged in the Law of Ukraine “On the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights” inasmuch as related to NPM operation. Monitors are obligated to abide by the ethical principles developed and approved by the Expert Council. In case of violation of such principles the Expert Council may issue a recommendation to the Ombudsman with regard to early termination of a monitor’s assignment. The number of monitors who underwent basic training in 2013 exceeded 150. 1.1.3. THE ROLE OF NGOs IN NPM IMPLEMENTATION The NPM Department has always, as of its very inception, actively interacted with CSOs throughout Ukraine. As already mentioned above, the Expert Council turned out to be the most efficient format of such interaction. The Council consists of leading experts from human rights NGOs and representatives of international organizations invited as observers. During 2013 the Council held three meetings that, inter alia, decided on the following: Code of monitors’ ethics and of the algorithms of monitoring visits to various custodial settings; • planning and conduct of monitoring visits, etc. The key areas of interaction with the civic organizations in the course of the past year specifically featured the following: 1. Participation in joint visits to custodial settings; 2. Participation in awareness and training activities (training sessions, seminars, conferences); 3. Preparation of publications, guidebooks and other materials; • approval of NPM implementation plan for 2013; • development of the criteria for selection and training of monitors of custodial settings; • approval of the candidacies of monitors who were selected and underwent basic training on NPM operation; 5. Studying NPM work in other countries. development and adoption of the Participation in awareness and training • 4. Assistance in the drafting of special reports of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights as per the outcomes of monitoring of specific areas of custodial settings’ operation, and