National Preventive Mechanism In the view of the NPM, supervisory controls concentrate above all on structural circumstances (staffing ratios, staff qualifications, occupancy rates and other issues related to staffing) and nursing processes. Because the focus on quality of processes and structures remains limited, very few indications concerning the quality of nursing and care services are available to supervisory authorities. Objective indicators of quality nursing, such as the number of restrictions of freedom, the frequency and consequences of falls, the number and severity of pressure sores, the emergence of catheter infections, drug administration errors, weight loss, etc. are collected by supervisory authorities on a rudimentary basis during regulatory controls, but are not made available for use in order to make comparisons between institutions. A systematic approach as part of a comprehensive quality assurance concept would also make it possible to measure the level of satisfaction with nursing and care services for residents, relatives and staff. A transparent and rigorous quality assessment of nursing care outcomes is only in its infancy in Austria, as was substantiated in detail in the 2013 report by Gesundheit Österreich GmbH (or GÖG – national research and planning institute for health care). In October 2016 investigations were initiated by the public prosecutors’ office in a nursing home in Lower Austria, which had repeatedly been awarded the National Quality Certificate for residential and nursing homes in Austria (NQC). Four nurses in a ward are suspected of having subjected nursing care patients to serious physical abuse over a period of months. Amongst other things it was reported that whilst they were working night shifts together, hairspray was sprayed into the faces of the patients, faeces was stuffed into their mouths and essential spirits were rubbed into their eyes and genitals. NQC does not safeguard against violence and abuse The NQC is an award for homes that have introduced particular quality management systems and that make systematic efforts – over and beyond compliance with statutory requirements – to achieve the best possible individual quality of life. Here too, despite the external evaluation carried out by the NQC, it can be the case that nursing care results differ significantly from standards that have supposedly been achieved. In terms of preventive aspects, the question arises for the NPM as to which safeguards would have been required in order to avoid abuse or at least to be able to recognise it at a significantly earlier stage. This aspect will be considered by the NPM after the 2017 findings of Commission 6 have been presented. In the face of this sobering conclusion, the Jubiläumsfonds of the Austrian National Bank must be thanked for providing the NPM its support which made possible realisation of a practical study. This study carried out by Petra Niederhametner (project head: Stefan Titscher, university professor emeritus) is dedicated to the prevention of human rights violations in nursing homes and psychiatric wards. It considers the issue of where vulnerable situations from a human rights perspective arise and how they can be defused. Risks and preventive measures are addressed in detail in eight of the main monitoring Prevention study „Avoiding violations of human rights“ 103