ANNEX 8 – STATE TREATY ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL MECHANISM OF ALL THE LÄNDER IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 3 OF THE OPTIONAL PROTOCOL OF 18 DECEMBER 2002 TO THE CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE AND OTHER CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT OF 25 JUNE 2009 The Land Baden-Württemberg, represented by the Prime Minister, in turn represented by the Minister of Justice, the Land Rhineland-Palatinate, represented by the Prime Minister, in turn represented by the Minister of Justice, the Free State of Bavaria, represented by the Prime Minister, in turn represented by the Minister of State for Justice and for Consumer Protection, the Saarland, represented by the Prime Minister, in turn represented by the Minister for Justice, Labour Affairs, Health and Social Affairs, the Land Berlin, represented by the Governing Mayor, in turn represented by the Senator for Justice, the Free State of Saxony, represented by the Prime Minister, in turn represented by the Minister of State of Justice, the Land Brandenburg, represented by the Prime Minister, in turn represented by the Minister of Justice, the Free and Hanseatic City of Bremen, represented by the Chairman of the Senate, in turn represented by the Senator for Justice and Constitution, the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, represented by the Senate, in turn represented by the Chairperson of the Ministry of Justice, the Land Hesse, represented by the Prime Minister, in turn represented by the Minister of Justice, for Integration and European Affairs, the Land Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, represented by the Prime Minister, in turn represented by the Minister of Justice, the Land Lower Saxony, represented by the Prime Minister, in turn represented by the Minister of Justice, the Land North Rhine-Westphalia, represented by the Prime Minister, in turn represented by the Minister of Justice, the Land Saxony-Anhalt, represented by the Prime Minister, in turn represented by the Minister of Justice, the Land Schleswig-Holstein, represented by the Prime Minister, in turn represented by the Minister for Justice, Labour Affairs and Europe, and the Free State of Thuringia, represented by the Prime Minister, in turn represented by the Minister of Justice, herewith conclude the following State Treaty: Preamble The Federal Republic of Germany signed the Optional Protocol of 18 December 2002 to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (hereinafter referred to as “Optional Protocol”) on 20 September 2006. The Optional Protocol provides for the establishment of national mechanisms for the prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (hereinafter referred to as “for the 111