25 July 2016 – At the Ombudsman’s premises, the Ombudsman, her Deputy Tone Dolčič and Ombudsman’s adviser mag. Jure Markič met representatives of the Slovenian association for help with dementia, Spominčica, Alzheimer Slovenia, President Štefanija Zlobec and Secretary General David Krivec. 26 July 2016 – The Ombudsman, her Deputy and Head of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) Ivan Šelih, Ombudsman’s advisers and NPM members, mag. Jure Markič and Robert Gačnik, and a representative of a contractual NGO, SKUP – Community of Private Institutes, Jure Trbič, presented the 2015 Report on the implementation of NPM duties at a press conference held at the Ombudsman’s premises. 12 August 2016 – Deputy Ombudsmen Tone Dolčič and Ivan Šelih and Ombudsman’s advisers Lili Jazbec, Dr Ingrid Russi Zagožen and mag. Jure Markič met representatives of the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities at the Ombudsman’s premises and discussed the Ministry’s plans regarding the care of persons with dementia. 8–9 September 2016 – Deputy Ombudsman Ivan Šelih and Ombudsman’s advisers mag. Jure Markič, Lili Jazbec and Nataša Bratož attended the second ‘Days of Mental Health’ in Portorož, an event organised on the initiative of the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia. The topic of this year’s gathering was to highlight problems and seek solutions regarding the referral and involuntary placement of persons with mental disorders in secure wards of social care institutions. 14 September 2016 – At the Ministry of the Interior, Ombudsman’s adviser mag. Jure Markič attended a meeting on open issues regarding measures taken by the police in special social care institutions. The issue of punishing people declared legally incapable was also discussed. 16–17 September 2016 – Deputy Ombudsman Ivan Šelih and Ombudsman’s adviser mag. Jure Markič attended the 8th psycho-geriatric meeting entitled ‘Live with dementia in a dementia friendly environment’, which was held in Dobrna. The meeting was organised by NGO, the Slovenian association for help with dementia, Spominčica, and Ljubljana University Psychiatric Hospital. 21 September 2017 – Deputy Ombudsman Ivan Šelih and Ombudsman’s adviser Lili Jazbec attended a symposium of the European youth care alliance EUROMET entitled ‘Early treatment of emotional and behavioural problems/disorders: early detection – suitable programme – suitable institution’, organised by Veržej Primary School in Banovci. At the symposium, Deputy Šelih spoke about the functioning of the Ombudsman and the National Preventive Mechanism, while the Ombudsman’s adviser pointed out examples of good practice in residential treatment institutions and youth homes, and emphasised the recommendations and proposals made in reports after inspections. 10–12 October 2016 – Deputy Ombudsman and Head of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) Ivan Šelih and Ombudsman’s adviser mag. Jure Markič attended a workshop entitled ‘Homes for the elderly/care institutions and dementia – standards in health care and medication-based deprivation of liberty’ as part of the meeting of the South-East Europe NPM Network in Vienna (Austria). The meeting was organised by the Austrian Ombudsman, who held the presidency of the South-East Europe NPM Network in 2016. 13–14 October 2016 – As the Head of the National Preventive Mechanism, Deputy Ombudsman Ivan Šelih attended a conference organised in Vienna (Austria) by ODIHR (Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights) in cooperation with APT (Association for the prevention of torture). 20 October 2016 – The Ombudsman and her advisers, mag. Jure Markič and Nataša Bratož, attended a seminar, ‘The child and adolescent on the threshold of a psychiatric ward’, at Ljubljana University Psychiatric Hospital. The Ombudsman spoke about experience of protecting the rights of children and adolescents undergoing psychiatric treatment. 21 October 2016 – The Ombudsman and her deputies attended the 23rd session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia, where the 21st Annual Report of the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia for 2015 and the Report on the implementation of NPM duties in 2015 were discussed. On 25 October 2016, the National Assembly adopted the Ombudsman’s recommendations with 74 for votes (and no votes against), and advised institutions and high officials at all levels to observe the recommendations. 24 IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE NPM IN 2016 NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM UNDER THE OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE AND OTHER CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT