been providing important financial and analytical support to the NPM for already several years. This support is manifested in planning and financing of various training, capacity building and monitoring activities. Moreover, several training activities have been carried out under the framework of the Council of Europe Project “Human Rights in Prisons and Other Closed Institutions.” 2.2.6. COMMUNICATION WITH FOREIGN COLLEAGUES The Public Defender and NPM paid a particular attention to the communication and experience sharing with colleagues. On October 18-20, 2017, members of the National Preventive Mechanism of the Republic of Moldova paid a study visit to Georgia. The aim of the visit was to get acquainted with the activities of the National Preventive Mechanism of Georgia. The Moldovan Delegation consisted of Public Defender Mihail Cotorobai, representatives of the Public Defender's Office and members of the Board of Fight against Torture. On July 21-25, 2017, employees of the Public Defender's Office and members of the Special Preventive Group paid a study visit to the Republic of Armenia. The aim of the visit was to share the experience of monitoring of psychiatric institutions by employees of the Public Defender's Office and members of the Special Preventive Group of Georgia with representatives of the National Preventive Mechanism and the Independent Monitoring Boards (police and prison monitoring boards) of Armenia. During the training, the members of the National Preventive Mechanism of Georgia introduced to their colleagues the methodology developed by them for monitoring the psychiatric institutions. In addition, the training participants paid a joint study visit to the Nubarashen psychiatric establishment. On June 5-7, 2017, members of the National Prevention Mechanism of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan visited Georgia. The aim of the visit was to familiarize with the activities of the Georgian National Preventive Mechanism.Within the framework of the study visit, the employees of the Department of Prevention and Monitoring of the Public Defender of Georgia briefed the Kyrgyz colleagues of the monitoring methodology in the penitentiary establishments, agencies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and psychiatric facilities, as well as the control mechanism for the implementation of the recommendations. 2.3. WORKING METHODOLOGY AND TRAINING OF THE NPM STAFF 2.3.1. ADVISORY COUNCIL The objective of the Advisory Council is to foster an effective functioning of the National Preventive Mechanism. The Council presents its opinions to the Public Defender on the following issues: a) on the 7