SECTION 1. Implemenation of the NMP in ukraine 23 – to participate in the development of legislative proposals and, as assigned by the Ombudsman, to develop the legislative and regulatory drafts necessary for prevention of violations of the right to protection against illtreatment or for facilitation of its restoration; – to examine citizens’ petitions on matters in the competence of the Department, to draft proposals regarding initiation of proceedings in human rights violation cases and to pursue the initiated proceedings; – to process, account, analyze, examine and check on, with site visits if necessary, the petitions to the Ombudsman on matters in the competence of the Department; – as assigned by the Ombudsman, to forward citizens’ petitions to the concerned bodies, with recommendations regarding compliance with the standards in the area of protection against ill-treatment, and to oversee the consideration of such applications; – as assigned by the Ombudsman, to participate in the inspections of the current respect, by the public authorities and bodies of local self-government, of the right to protection against ill-treatment; – as assigned by the Ombudsman, to explain the measures to be taken by the individual who applied to the Ombudsman; – to cooperate with non-governmental civic organizations, within the competence of the Department and as assigned by the Ombudsman; – to cooperate, within the competence of the Department and as assigned by the Ombudsman, with public authorities and bodies of local self-government and their consultative and advisory bodies in the sphere of prevention of, and response to, violations of the right to protection against ill-treatment; – to receive citizens, as assigned by the Ombudsman and in accordance with the established procedure; – to participate in preparation of informational announcements for their posting on the official Web-site of the Ombudsman of Ukraine. The principal function of the Department is to conduct scheduled and ad hoc visits to custodial settings in order to prevent ill-treatment. Scheduled visits occur pursuant to the Department’s approved annual work plans, while ad hoc visits are mostly related to the need to verify information about systemic violations of human rights in the operation of a certain institution and, specifically, allegations about application of torture and cruel treatment.