mistreated. The paramedics employed are cumulatively paid by the police stations, at a rate of 0.5% of their salary. The NPM has carried out approximately 90 visits to places of detention in 2009. They met 10 persons who stated that they had been ill-treated and 27 persons with visible marks. Some members of the Consultative Council have been restricted access to places of detention or have been confronted with considerable delays. Regarding the legal basis of the NPM, on 26 July 2007, the Moldovan Parliament adopted Law no. 200, amending and supplementing the Law on the Parliamentary Ombudsmen, thus assigning the mandate of the NPM to the Parliamentary Ombudsmen. In view of achieving the involvement of civil society, a Consultative Council was established, with the purpose of providing advice and assistance in exercising the Parliamentary Ombudsmen’s liabilities as NPM. Given the need to supplement the Consultative Council with 5 members, the Centre for Human Rights announced a call in this respect, but because the number of applications was insufficient, it was decided to extend the deadline for submission until 13 November 2009. During the first 9 months of the 2009, 117 preventive visits were carried out. Out of these, 31 were carried out by the members of the Consultative Council and 11 by the Parliamentary Ombudsmen and officials from the Centre for Human Rights. (c) Institutional reforms i) Continue and accelerate reforms of the prosecutor’s office, the police and the penitentiary system with a view to transforming them into truly clientoriented bodies that ii) Strengthen the independence of the judiciary; make judges aware of their responsibilities The legal framework and penitentiary policies in Moldova were punitive, directed at locking people up, rather than aimed at reintegrating prisoners, in particular extremely restrictive visiting policies and numerous constraints on contacts with the outside world; 155 Common problems at all pre- and posttrial prisons were poor hygienic conditions, restricted access to health Non-governmental sources: The criminal investigation bodies continue to have a punitive attitude. Government: Although relevant trainings and seminars are taking place, there is still need for administrative and institutional measures including further trainings in the MIA and involvement of all actors in torture prevention. The MIA is in the process of implementing the Institutional Development Plan for 2009-2010, which was developed in the context of reforms of the entire central public administration. In this view, the Ministry aligns to European standards and adjusts the existing legal framework to the EU acquis of decentralization, demilitarization and de-politicization of its activities, improving the management of service to society. In addition, the Ministry has organized and conducted instructive A/HRC/13/39/Add.6 operate transparently, including through modernized and demilitarized training; Lack of independence of judges who in many cases continued to follow the arguments of the prosecutor without intervening in cases of alleged torture;