Attendance at domestic conferences not having external experts who would support the NPM with their specialist knowledge during preventive visits. The Coalition’s comments on the NPM’s operation were discussed. The majority of issues concerned the annual report. During the meeting held on 10 October 2011, discussions concerned the Coalition’s doubts as to amendments to the Act on the Human Rights Defender and its remarks on the Report of the Human Rights Defender on the activities of the National Preventive Mechanism in Poland in 2010. On 6 June 2011, a representative of the National Preventive Mechanism attended a working meeting devoted to the employment of prisoners. The meeting was also attended by Halina Bortnowska, member of the Social Council at the Human Rights Defender, as well as by representatives of “Sławek” Foundation and “Patronat” Penitentiary Association. On 13 September 2011, the activity of the NPM was presented to representatives of the Art Of Living Foundation during a meeting devoted to the Foundation’s programmes: Prison Smart, YES, YES+ and NAP. On 12 September 2011, the Office of the Human Rights Defender organised a meeting of Coalition members with representatives of the Office of the People’s Advocate (Office of the Ombudsman) in the framework of the OPCAT AND OMBUDSMAN European Seminar. The talks focused on the rules of cooperation of the National Preventive Mechanism with NGOs. The history of the Coalition was discussed, as well as the rules of cooperation with the National Preventive Mechanism Department at the HRD’s Office. The Austrian delegation was also informed about the process of selecting Coalition members. 4. Attendance at domestic conferences On 23 May 2011, a representative of the National Preventive Mechanism attended the 5th Penitentiary Congress – Modernisation of the Polish Prison System, held in Warsaw and Popowo. Discussions concerned, inter alia, global universalisation of standards for dealing with prisoners, and the prison system as part of the state security system. On 10 June 2011, a member of the National Preventive Mechanism Department staff participated in a conference entitled “Education, training and employment of the convicts” organised by the Central Board of the Prison Service and the Reintegration of Ex-Offenders Community of Practice (ExOCop). The purpose of the conference was to draw up recommendations for the European Commission on education, trainings and employment of inmates, with particular focus on working with vulnerable groups, such as women, juveniles and foreigners. On 15-17 June 2011, the Association of Directors and Chief Accountants of Polish Sobering Stations organised a conference devoted to the functioning of sobering stations and improving the conditions in rooms for the people detained or brought to sober up in Police organisational units. The conference was attended by a Human Rights Defender’s representative from the National Preventive Mechanism Department. Representatives of 15