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 and study visits have been carried out under the framework of the Council of Europe Project “Human Rights in Prisons and Other Closed Institutions.” NPM was actively involved in the project of the UN Association in Georgia (UNAG), which envisaged exchange of information and conducting joint monitoring in penitentiary institutions to study the state of rights of asylum seekers, refugees and persons having humanitarian status. 1.2.6. COMMUNICATION WITH FOREIGN COLLEAGUES The NPM paid a particular attention to the communication and experience sharing with colleagues. Throughout the reporting period, representatives of the Ombudsman met with the SPT representative and furnished him with the information related to the activities of the Prevention and Monitoring Department and its future plans. Subcommittee positively assessed Department’s activities and colleagues agreed that Georgian NPM would share its experience to the NPMs of other countries. The Public Defender of Georgia and the NPM also pays particular attention to the cooperation and experience sharing with NPMs of different countries. In 2015, study visit of the NPM was carried out in Serbia; also, the NPM of Georgia hosted colleagues from Czech NPM on October 19-20, 2015. 1.3. WORKING METHODOLOGY AND TRAINING OF THE NMP STAFF 1.3.1. ADVISORY COUNCIL During 2015, NPM’s Advisory Council4 held three meetings. Members of the Council were provided with the information on past and future activities of the NPM; they expressed own opinions and recommendations for better functioning of NPM. 4 12 Members of the NPM Advisory Council are: Givi Mikanadze, Tsira Tchanturia, Tamar Gvaramadze, Jago Katchkatchishvili, Nino Makhashvili and Ana Arganashvili. Detailed information on the Council is available at <http://www.ombudsman.ge/en/prevenciis-erovnuli-meqanizmi/prevenciis-erovnuli-meqanizmis-sakonsultacio-sabcho/about-advisory-council-of-the-national-preventive-mechanism.page> [last accessed 09.06.2016]. NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM (NPM), 2015