Report of the HRD on the activities of the National Preventive Mechanism in Poland in 2011 During the annual conference, entitled Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, held on 28 September 2011 in Warsaw, during a panel dedicated to the protection against torture, a representative of the NPM presented a number of examples of breaching the prisoners’ rights. The conference was organised by the ODIHR.17 In addition, a representative of the NPM took part in a panel on responsibility for torture in secret CIA prisons. Under the project entitled “Co-operation between Ombudsmen from Eastern Partnership Countries (EP) 2009-2013,” a representative of the National Preventive Mechanism attended seminars organised on 27-30 September in Yerevan, and on 11-13 October 2011 in Baku. In the framework of exchanging experience, a representative of the Polish Mechanism discussed the recommendations issued by the NPM, concerning different types of detention places visited, and then informed about the organisation and functioning of the National Preventive Mechanism in Poland. He also participated in the visits to places of detention organised by the host Mechanisms, namely to a pre-trial detention centre and to a mental hospital (Armenia), and to a pre-trial detention centre (Azerbaijan). A representative of the National Preventive Mechanism attended the regional conference in Pitagorsk, Russia, devoted to the “Ways to overcome the difficulties of public control in Russia” organised by the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Russian Federation, National Human Rights Structures and the Council of Europe on 5-6 October 2011. During the conference, a NPM representative presented the Mechanism’s experience in protecting the detainees against torture and other inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. The purpose of his address was for the Russian delegation to learn the methods of conducting preventive visits, the organisational structure of the NPM and the rules of cooperation with international institutions. On 17 and 18 October 2011, a conference on establishing a national preventive mechanism in Ukraine was organised in Kiev. During a two-day session, a representative of the Polish Mechanism discussed the organisation and functioning of the NPM in the framework of the models in place at the Ombudsman’s Office. The first global forum for the prevention of torture was organised by the APT on 10-11 November 2011 in Geneva. It was attended by a representative of the National Preventive Mechanism. The purpose of the meeting was to evaluate, on the fifth anniversary of the entry of the Optional Protocol into force (June 2006), the impact of OPCAT on the protection of detainees against torture, and to share ideas with a view to ensure effective implementation of the Treaty. On 21-24 November 2011, employees of the National Preventive Mechanism of the Republic of Macedonia paid a study visit to the National Preventive Mechanism Department at the Office of the Human Rights Defender. The main objective of the visit was to exchange the experience connected with the implementation of OPCAT, and to carry out joint preventive visits.  Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. 17 18