Report on the Performance of Activities of the National Preventive Mechanism for 2017 closing the borders is not an answer to migration pressure, because it does not take into consideration the migrants' rights, which is why more effort is needed in promoting and advocating legal paths of migration and mobility. We are aware of the difficulties arising from the territorial approach to the asylum system, which, together with the current framework of the Common European Asylum System and migration management, puts the RC into a difficult position. State border protection, which is also the external border of the EU, as well as the security of all citizens, is extremely important for national security and represents a legitimate political interest as a part of the Schengen evaluation process and assessment of the readiness of the RC to join the Schengen area. However, all activities must be carried out taking into account migrants' rights, especially enabling the access to international protection and individual treatment, in accordance with Article 13 and 14 of the Schengen Code, paired with effective implementation of return measures, in accordance with the FA. 1.6. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND CAPACITIES FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF TASKS OF THE NPM International Cooperation of the NPM As in previous years, we were also active on the international level in 2017 and participated in the meetings of the South-East Europe NPM Network and EU NPM Forum. Within the South-East Europe NPM Network, we participated in conferences in Belgrade on persons with mental disorders in detention, in Podgorica on healthcare in prisons and psychiatric institutions, and at the Network meeting in Belgrade which presented methodologies of work of the national and international bodies for preventing torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. We also made our contribution at the IPCAN Network Conference in Strasbourg on the topic of “Complaints about Police and Protection of Human Rights in the Context of Anti-Terrorist Policies“, we were active at the EU NPM Forum meetings and at the invitation of the Council of Europe we participated in an international conference in Tunisia, focused on strengthening the capacities of newlyestablished NPMs. At the FRA Conference in Vienna, we participated on the topic of detention of children migrants, on the training of trainers for forced-return monitoring and in the conference on forced return monitoring and annual reviews held in Athens, organized by FRONTEX, ICMPD and FRA. In 2017, the Office organized two study visits on the NPM work methodology: together with the Slovenian delegation we visited the Zadar Prison, and with the Moroccan delegation we visited the Split Prison and the Detention Unit of the Split-Dalmatia Police Administration. During the fifth regular tour of the RC, we held a meeting with the CPT representatives at the Office of the Ombudswoman, during which they were informed about the issues in the area of NPM activity, and we also maintained regular collaboration with the SPT. 47