National Prevention Mechanism (Department) of the Public Defender’s Office, discussed the importance of education in preventing human rights abuses. He presented to the participants the activities of the Public Defender, the mandate of the Human Rights Academy and its activities, the specific nature of the NPM’s activities and the situation in terms of training of the personnel of closedtype establishments. The global system of prevention of torture, which comprises the United Nations SPT and national prevention mechanism, was discussed as the ideal model for preventing human rights abuses. The participants of the workshop agreed that only the mechanism of follow-up to violations is not a solution and more emphasis should be placed on preventing violations. Thus, it is important to change the working methodology of the relevant bodies within the United Nations and national human rights institutions to make their activities more prevention-oriented. On 5-7 March 2018, Akaki Kukhaleishvili, the representative of the National Prevention Mechanism (Department) of the Public Defender’s Office participated in a workshop – Monitoring and Accountability – organised by the European Network of Human Rights National Institutions in the capital of Moldova, Chisinau. On 31 May - 1 June 2018, Nika Kvaratskhelia, Head of the National Prevention Mechanism (Department) of the Public Defender’s Office, was invited to the conference held in Tashkent, dedicated to introducing a preventive monitoring mechanism for the places of deprivation of liberty in Uzbekistan. On 26 June 2018, to mark the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the Public Defender of Georgia and the international NGO Prison Reform International (PRI) held a regional conference where National Preventive Mechanisms of Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia presented their annual reports. On 15-17 July 2018, Nino Lomjaria, the Public Defender of Georgia paid an official visit to Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, where she, together with Armen Tatoyan, the Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Artak Zeynalyan, the Minister of Justice of Armenia, and the representatives of international delegations participated in the conference organised by the Armenian side. The participants discussed in a round-table format the activities of the NPM of the Public Defender of Georgia and the rights of women and juveniles in penitentiary establishments of Armenia and access to healthcare in prisons. On 30 July - 2 August 2018, Akaki Kukhaleishvili, Deputy Head of the National Prevention Mechanism (Department) of the Public Defender’s Office, participated as a speaker in a regional seminar on Introducing the NPM in Palestine, hosted in Amman. On 15-19 October 2018, an international conference on Fair Treatment of Persons in Police Custody was held in Oranienburg. Nika Kvaratskhelia, Head of the National Prevention Mechanism (Department), delivered a lecture about national prevention mechanisms, discussed the achievements of the Georgian NPM and the existing challenges. 10