CAT/OP/GBR/CNPMRO/1 15. The NPM accepts that its unique nature as a multi-body NPM presents distinct challenges for its institutional visibility and identity. However, many NPM members already have considerable and unique recognition across a wide-range of platforms and any work on NPM visibility must avoid undermining this. For example, HMI Prisons and CQC recently received nation-wide media coverage for thematic and annual reports on the treatment of and conditions for people in detention.8 Furthermore, the NPM’s Scottish subgroup is very visible in several departments within the Scottish Government. 16. To work on the recommendation contained the paragraph 69, one of the NPM’s four strategic goals is to “increase the visibility and awareness of the UK NPM’s role in preventing ill treatment in detention”. The NPM’s 2020–21 business plan includes goals to improve public visibility by producing an annual report on NPM activities to Parliament, government and stakeholders and publicising NPM work and its impact through Twitter activity, the NPM website and media appearances. 17. The NPM has engaged in important work to increase its institutional visibility in recent months. In February 2020, the NPM appeared on an episode of Better Human, a podcast which documents positive human rights stories. Representatives from the IMB, MWCS and the NPM Secretariat discussed the important work done to monitor the treatment and conditions in prisons and places of mental health detention. There was also discussion about the wider international human rights framework that underpins the work of professional inspectors and volunteer monitors. 9 The NPM Secretariat also recently produced two infographics to explain the role of the NPM and its membership, which have since been shared on Twitter. The NPM Secretariat has previously explored how to use the media and communications capacities within member organisations to facilitate greater visibility for the NPM collectively. The NPM aims to engage in more public facing work in 2020-21 as the Secretariat is now staffed by two full-time roles. 18. The NPM engaged in public facing work to raise its visibility in response to COVID19. The NPM Secretariat collected regular information on members’ responses to COVID19 and updates to their monitoring work to include in regular Twitter updates. The NPM Chair and Chief Inspector for Prisons in Scotland also appeared in the Association for Prevention of Torture’s ‘Voices from the Field’ video series to highlight the NPM’s approach to monitoring during COVID-19.10 19. With regards to the SPT report’s recommendation that the NPM strive for stronger coordination and more cohesive work, the NPM Secretariat has developed a range of information and training materials on the role of the NPM and OPCAT to explain the international human rights framework behind preventive monitoring. These new materials will be distributed in 2021 to NPM members to build and reinforce the knowledge of the NPM structure and the concept of prevention within member organisations. 20. In addition to this, the NPM welcomes the SPT’s suggestions for enhancing its collective identity contained in paragraph 68 of its report. The NPM Secretariat will further consider the SPT’s suggestions with its members before implementing any changes, particularly in light of the NPM’s limited budget. 21. The NPM acknowledges that increasing its visibility would be significantly aided by action from the State Party, who have the power to support the work of the NPM by placing it on a statutory footing. As above (see paragraph 1 of the NPM’s response), the NPM continues to strive towards being placed on a legislative footing and is working in collaboration with the UK Government in order to achieve this. 8 9 10 BBC, October 2020, Prisoners locked up for 23 hours due to Covid rules is ‘dangerous’, https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-54607813 [accessed 29/10/2020]; The Guardian, October 2020, England’s ‘fragile’ care sector needs immediate reform, says regulator, https://www. theguardian.com/society/2020/oct/16/englands-fragile-care-sector-needs-immediate- reform-saysregulator [accessed 29/10/2020]. Better Human Podcast, May 2020, The People Who Volunteer to go to Prison, https://anchor.fm /better-human/episodes/26---The-people-who-volunteer-to-go-to-prison-eeqdaf. APT, 2020, Voices from the Field (webpage), https://www.apt.ch/en/resources/publications/voicesfield. 5