Throughout the reporting period, the National Preventive Mechanism carried out research on penitentiary healthcare through the financial support of the Open Society – Georgia Foundation. Throughout the reporting period, the NPM has been in active cooperation with the EU within the framework of the project “Support of the Public Defender’s Office II”. Through this project, the EU has been providing important financial and analytical support to the NPM for already several years. This support is manifested in planning and financing of various training, capacity building and monitoring activities. Moreover, several training activities have been carried out under the framework of the Council of Europe Project “Human Rights in Prisons and Other Closed Institutions.” 2.2.6. COMMUNICATION WITH FOREIGN COLLEAGUES The NPM paid a particular attention to the communication and experience sharing with colleagues. On November 22-24, 2016, representatives of the Department of Prevention and Monitoring of the Public Defender’s Office of Georgia, paid a working/study visit to the Croatian capital, Zagreb. The aim of the visit was to get information about the mandate and activities of the Croatian National Preventive Mechanism. During the visit, representatives of the Department of Prevention and Monitoring familiarized with the working methodology of the Croatian National Preventive Mechanism, characteristics of preparation of reports, the existing practice of taking photos, monitoring instruments and methods of supervising the implementation of recommendations. 2.3. WORKING METHODOLOGY AND TRAINING OF THE NPM STAFF 2.3.1. ADVISORY COUNCIL The objective of the Advisory Council is to foster an effective functioning of the National Preventive Mechanism. The Council presents its opinions to the Public Defender on the following issues: a) on the plan of activities that should be implemented by the National Preventive Mechanism; b) on the working methodology; c) on thematic research; d) on professional training of members of the National Preventive Mechanism; e) on other strategic documents of the National Preventive Mechanism; f) on other important issues for the efficient functioning of the National Preventive Mechanism. The opinion of the Council is of a consultative nature. The invited members of the Council facilitate communication of the National Preventive Mechanism with academic circles, donor organizations, and other stakeholders. Besides of the representatives of the PDO, the members of the Council are also invited experts, which can be: a) a person who conducts educational/academic activities in the field related to the mandate of the National Preventive Mechanism; b) a member of an international organization who works in the field of prevention of torture and criminal NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM (NPM), 2016 11