Report of the Commissioner for Human Rights on the activities of the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture in Poland in 2017 Educational activity NMPT regional debates 2017 saw the continuation of the cycle of 16 regional debates held in the capital cities of regions that was initiated in 2016. 2017: 8 regional debates The meetings were addressed to representatives of all types of places of detention, representatives of the public prosecutor offices, judicial authorities, voivodeship governments and universities. The debates provided a platform for the exchange of experience in the cooperation of heads of the detention places with the NMPT in the field of protecting the rights of persons deprived of their liberty. The visits also aimed to provide an insight into the systemic problems identified during te preventive visits to places of detention, and to highlight the role of the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture as a partner for the heads of the visited establishments in building the culture of non-acceptance of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. In 2017, 8 regional debates were held in Wrocław, Szczecin, Białystok, Rzeszów, Opole, Zielona Góra, Kraków and Bydgoszcz. The debates in Kraków and Bydgoszcz were attended by Deputy Commissioner for Human Rights Hanna Machińska, Ph.D., whereas the previous regional debates were attended by Col. Krzysztof Olkowicz. Przemysław Kazimirski, Deputy Director of the NMPT was in charge of preparation and moderation of all the debates. Apart from the representation of the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture (deputy CHR and deputy director of the NMPT), 4 regional debates in 2017 were also attended by NMPT Director Justyna Róża Lewandowska. The NMPT employees: Klaudia Kamińska, Rafał Kulas and Marcin Kusy also participated in the remaining debates. 80