• On September 6-7, 2016, Nika Kvaratskhelia, Head of the Department of Prevention and Monitoring of the Public Defender’s Office, participated in a symposium organized by the Association for the Prevention of Torture. The topic of the symposium was the monitoring of psychiatric  institutions. Nika Kvaratskhelia talked about the specifics of the National Preventive Mechanism of Georgia and the main problematic issues identified during the monitoring, as well as quality of care, overmedication and chemical restraints. • On October 13-14, annual working meeting of NPMs from the OSCE region was held in Vienna, Austria. The meeting was attended by the head of the Department of Prevention and Monitoring – Nika Kvaratskhelia. He outreached to the participants of the meeting the activities of the Georgian NPM, its accomplishments and existing challenges. • On November 8-9, senior legal expert of the Department of Prevention and Monitoring – Saba Pipia participated in the Sixth Eastern European Conference of NPMs, held in Lviv, Ukraine. • On December 8-10, researcher-analyst of the Department of Prevention and Monitoring – Akaki Kukhaleishvili participated in the international conference “Citizen and Militia” held in Minsk, Belarus. • On November 17, 2016, Nika Kvaratskhelia, Head of the Department of Prevention and Monitoring of the Public Defender’s Office, addressed the participants of the 30th session of the United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture on behalf of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) of Georgia.12 The speech emphasized the importance of the efforts carried out by the mechanism for 7 years, as well as the achievements and challenges. The speech contained a clear message about strengthening the cooperation between the National Preventive Mechanism and state agencies in order to prevent torture and ill-treatment. The event marked the 10th anniversary of the entry into force of the OPCAT. 2.2.5. COOPERATION WITH NGOS AND OTHER DONOR ORGANIZATIONS In 2016, the NPM actively cooperated with different local and international NGOs and donors. Throughout the reporting period, the NPM had an active communication with the South Caucasus regional office of “Penal Reform International” (PRI). A number of meetings were held on the issue of protection of human rights in the places of deprivation/ restriction of liberty. Representatives of the NPM had regular communication with the international NGO “Association for the Prevention of Torture” related to the setting up of effective follow-up mechanism for recommendations. 12 10 It should be noted that out of the world’s 65 national preventive mechanisms, representatives from only 3 countries - Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and Norway were invited to this important event. HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN CLOSED INSTITUTIONS