11 1.2. The most important information about the activities of the Ombudsman while performing duties of the National Preventive Mechanism against Torture (NPM) in 201310 In 2013, the NPM conducted 77 visits to establishments where persons deprived of their liberty are placed. 40 working days were spent in conducting visits in 44 police stations, 11 prisons, two psychiatric hospitals, 1 social welfare institution of a nursing home type, 13 private homes for the elderly, 2 visits in asylum centers and 4 admission monitoring of persons returned in the readmission process at the Belgrade Airport “Nikola Tesla”. Based on the conducted visits, the NPM has provided the reports on visits to the visited institutions providing recommendations for remedying identified deficiencies in their work, which may cause or lead to torture or ill-treatment. In the course of 2013, the NPM composed ​​42 reports11 on conducted visits to institutions where persons deprived of their liberty are placed with recommendations for remedying identified deficiencies. In the course of 2013, the NPM conveyed 263 recommendations12 for remedying identified deficiencies to the competent authorities. With the aim of implementing the recommendations addressed in the reports on the visits, the NPM entered into dialogue with the visited institutions and relevant ministries. Five meetings were held in which the possibilities for implementation of given recommendations were discussed. The NPM gave special attention to the protection from retaliation of persons deprived of their liberty, staff in institutions where persons deprived of their liberty are placed, as well as all other entities who were in contact with the NPM, provided information about the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty or indicated the emergence of abuse. The NPM instructed the competent authorities on the views and opinions regarding the improvement of legislation in the field of protection of rights of persons deprived of their liberty and prevention of torture. Attention was drawn to the irregularities in the Guidelines of the Ministry of Internal Affairs on the treatment of detainees brought in and detained and the Law on Protection of Persons with Mental Problems13, as well as the need to pass a law that will regulate the field of probation matters14. The NPM has made a significant contribution as to start a dialogue at the national level in terms of improving regulations in the field of asylum and migration matters. In order to promote and protect the rights of persons deprived of their liberty and to prevent torture, the NPM representatives participated in numerous conferences, round-tables and workshops during 2013. The media published a large number of interviews and press releases. A series of lectures to students were also given. On the International Day in support of victims of torture, on 26 June 2013, the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia held a public hearing at which the Annual report of the NPM for 2012 was presented. 10 See more under section 5 of this Report. 11 In the first quarter of 2014, the competent authorities have sent another 4 reports on visits that were conducted at the end of 2013. Given that they describe general position and conditions of persons deprived of their liberty in 2013, the main findings of those report are set out in this NPM Annual Report. 12 In the first quarter of 2014 another 137 recommendations were sent in the reports on visits conducted at the end of 2013. These recommendations are listed at the end of the NPM Annual Report, in Annex I/III. 13 Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia No 45/13. 14 72-160/12, Report on the NPM performance of duties for 2012.